National Institutes of Health Launches 3D Print Exchange

If you’ve followed developments in additive manufacturing (AM) over the last couple of years you’ll know the technology hasn’t only been a boon to industries such as aerospace and automotive. Both the medical and dental fields have also found ways to leverage AM, and the number of applications is still rising.

No doubt as a result of this trend, the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) have launched a 3D Print Exchange webpage devoted to providing easier access to existing 3D models, and as a platform for new developments. Essentially you can think of the new exchange as a Thingiverse for the medical field.

An example of the 3D models available on NIH’s new exchange site. Courtesy of NIH.

“3D printing is a potential game changer for medical research,” said NIH Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D. “At NIH, we have seen an incredible return on investment; pennies’ worth of plastic have helped investigators address important scientific questions while saving time and money. We hope that the 3D Print Exchange will expand interest and participation in this new and exciting field among scientists, educators and students.”

The new exchange already contains NIH’s library of medical 3D models, which covers everything from Ricin A chains to impacted wisdom teeth. The collection also offers a number of digital designs for printable lab equipment, which have the potential to save testing facilities thousands of dollars each year in expenses, as well as providing useful equipment for areas of the world where lab supplies are harder to acquire.

In the event someone would like to add to the exchange but doesn’t have much in the way of a digital design background, the NIH site includes a tutorial on creating a 3D image from images (they call it isosurface extraction from volumetric data). Other tutorials covering how to create medical and molecular 3D models are listed as “coming soon.”

More help can be found in the “Learn” section with additional tutorials explaining how customize 3D models and tips for maximizing 3D printer usage, such as one tutorial covering how to build hollow digital designs to save on material expenses. The FAQ explains basic AM terms such as defining what a .STL file is or providing an overview of how 3D printers build objects.

Hopefully the NIH can help spread the word of the versatility of AM for the medical field. Doctors have already begun using the technology to prepare for surgery, build inexpensive prosthetics, and design vital medical equipment.

Below you’ll find a video from NIH about the new exchange site.

Source: NIH