Invibio Biomaterial Solutions, part of Victrex plc., a pioneer in the development of PEEK biomaterial solutions, announced the launch of PEEK-OPTIMA™ AM Filament, an implantable PEEK filament for 3D printing. Importantly, Invibio's introduction of PEEK-OPTIMA™ AM filament makes the trusted implantable-grade PEEK-OPTIMA™ polymer available in a form specifically designed for Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) and Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) additive manufacturing processes.
The new PEEK-OPTIMA™ AM filament expands Invibio's portfolio of biocompatible polymers, which are already available in powders, granules, and rods for injection moulding and other processing methods.
Additive manufacturing for medical devices
Additive manufacturing provides a new way to develop parts quickly, cost-effectively, and with near-zero waste. Technical advantages of additive manufacturing methods include the ability to build complex geometries during fabrication and easily integrate multiple components into one part. In response to the increasing popularity of 3D-printed medical devices, the FDA has issued technical guidance to medical device designers and manufacturers, and Invibio can assist device OEMs in navigating regulatory pathways for PEEK-OPTIMA™ additive-manufactured devices.
Implantable PEEK Filament for 3D Printing
The additional format of PEEK-OPTIMA™ also allows hospital facilities to custom-make PEEK devices in-house, at the point of care, using FDM/FFF-compatible machines, which provides numerous benefits to patients and healthcare professionals, particularly in specialties such as CMF, which require design precision and rapid manufacturing.
“Invibio’s new PEEK-OPTIMA™ - the implantable PEEK filament for 3D printing has been launched to support medical device manufacturers as they assess the FFF/FDM route of additive manufacturing to help support the next generation of devices for a variety of demanding medical applications, such as CMF devices, spinal and orthopaedic implants.”
– Dr. John Devine, Medical Business Director at Invibio
Devine added, “We are excited to be able to offer the industry a 3D-printable form of PEEK-OPTIMA™ polymer – a material that has already been implanted into more than 15 million patients worldwide. As 3D printing becomes a realistic option for developing medical devices and implants for a growing number of medical device manufacturers and hospitals, the industry must now select high quality, high-performance biomaterials to enable commercialization of the next generation of medical devices.”
PEEK-OPTIMA™ LT1 AM filament is a 1.75mm monofilament that is compatible with high-quality FDM/FFF machines and is optimised for 3D printing of medical devices. It is available directly from Invibio around the world.
