How QMI and Anatomics led the way in additive manufacturing
In 1993 QMI successfully introduced the first industrial 3D printing system into Australia after becoming aware of the benefits it could bring to the manufacturing arena. Specifically, the new opportunities in both product design and manufacturing flexibility.
The industrial applications of additive manufacturing were already evident in several sectors (aerospace and defence, automotive, consumer goods etc.). Still, amazingly, one of the fastest-growing adopters has been the medical industry.
The beginnings
In 1991, Dr Paul S D’Urso encountered the first commercially released 3D printer (then known as a stereolithography apparatus, or SLA) and immediately saw the technology’s potential in medicine.
After receiving a research grant of $1200 from the Princess Alexandra Hospital Research and Development Foundation, he turned to the Queensland government for assistance and subsequently received SLA printing expertise provided through QMI.
With resources at hand, a fledgling Anatomics embarked on a journey to explore the possibility of printing body parts from CT scan data, with the aim of one day manufacturing “patient-specific solutions.” That ground-breaking idea worked.
Today, Dr D’Urso is the Founder and Executive Chairman of one of the world’s most innovative medical software and device companies, Anatomics.
Making history and changing lives
The production facility at QMI’s facility at Brisbane Technology Park became Dr D’Urso’s workstation, allowing him to create prototypes using state-of-the-art stereolithography (SLA) technology.
Supported by QMI and a network of expertise, collaborative partners and industry advisors, he materialised skull plates, artificial ears, and arteries at the base of the brain, all of which served as bases for a template to transfer the operative plan from model to patient, or provide custom implants
And the investment paid off.
From pioneering the world’s first successful custom acrylic cranial implant in 1993, to successfully transplanting the world’s first StarPore ribcage in 2019, Anatomics illustrates the importance of supporting and nurturing businesses at all stages of their manufacturing journey.
Still, the current medical applications of 3D printing are far from reaching their true potential. It is an area of manufacturing that is only now starting to be commercialised.
And demands are high.
On average, surgeons feel the three-dimensional SLA models are twice as helpful in the operating theatre as traditional techniques such as X-rays and computer models, and most feel the utility of the SLA model and custom implant easily justifies the production cost.
What was once a project sparked by the curiosity of a dedicated doctor is now an innovation giant, making stands for the prosperous future of Australia’s manufacturing industry.
What’s next?
Dr D’Urso’s comments:
“We enable the creativity of the people in the community – we want surgeons to design and make things that are relevant to their practice. We want schools and universities to use the information to create ideas and to share those ideas.”
Anatomics has also branched out into the software world, including generating collaborative online services for surgeons (Anatomics C3D), a platform to remotely collaborate with Anatomics engineers (Anatomics C3DSession), an autonomous online application for surgeons to view implant designs (AnatomicsC3DView), and a “personalised healthcare platform” (AnatomicsRx).
“We want to use the experience we’ve developed to link it with the software platform so that people all around the world can get access to this type of technology […] in a digitally connected world, communities can benefit now in a way they never could before”.
When asked about the future of 3D technology in the medical community, Dr D’Urso’s wished for three things:
for the FDA to create a ‘process orientated’ regulatory pathway for prosthetic implants, for hospitals to recognise the enormous benefit that patient-specific solutions can deliver, and that surgeons come to understand that planning will improve efficiency and outcomes.
The vision is simple: to enable better surgical outcomes through continuous improvement, technological innovation, and collaboration to make surgical procedures more effective for our partners and patients.
“This continues to be an outstanding example of Australian innovation with outstanding global impact. Enabling such ideas and technologies to provide life-changing tools and techniques to surgeons and their patients and families across the globe is such a rewarding part of our role.”
“The value QMI continues to bring to Queensland industry is immense – from enabling such ground-breaking global medical innovation to enabling our manufacturers to adopt world’s best technology and practices to compete strongly on an international stage.”
“Smart Australian industry has a strong future and QMI continues to support companies like Anatomics to achieve great things.”
Queensland Manufacturing Institute’s Non-Executive Director, Shay Chalmers
