Latest news with #medicalimplants
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bending Bones, Stretchy Ligaments: UT's 3D Printer Redefines Medical Implants
In a groundbreaking achievement that almost blurs the lines between science fiction and reality, researchers at The University of Texas at Austin have unveiled a new 3D printing technique that can combine soft and stretchable materials with other tough or rigid resins in a single, precise print. Inspired by the 'natural world,' think of the way bone transitions smoothly into cartilage: the new printing process allows engineers to create objects that can bend and flex when needed while also staying firm and supportive. Scientists at the University of Texas outlined to The Dallas Express that this breakthrough results in next-level prosthetics, modern flexible medical implants, and even wearable electronics that move and feel more like human tissue than ever before. 'By enabling precise control over both shape and material properties, our multimaterial 3D printing technology allows for the creation of devices that more closely mimic the complex mechanics of the human body,' Dr. Zak Page, Assistant Chemistry Professor at The University of Texas at Austin, told DX. 'Whether it's a prosthetic interface, a patient-specific surgical model, or a wearable health sensor, the ability to print gradual transitions between soft and rigid materials opens new possibilities for comfort, performance, and personalization across a wide range of medical applications,' Page added. The research results published earlier this week describe how the team achieved the 3D advancement using a custom-designed resin and a dual-light printing system. By simply changing the color of light during printing —violet for soft or rubbery parts and ultraviolet for more rigid sections —they were able to build objects with new gradients of flexibility and strength. A standout demo resulted in a tiny, functional 3D-printed 'knee joint,' complete with bending ligaments and sturdy bones that move together smoothly. Page said in the report that the first print was a surprise success. 'Honestly, what surprised me most was how well it worked on the first try. That almost never happens with 3D printing resins,' he said. 'We were also shocked by how different the properties were. The soft parts stretched like a rubber band and bounced back. The hard parts were as strong as plastics used in consumer products.' The new 3D printing technique also boasts faster speeds, and the necessary equipment isn't out of reach for smaller labs or hospitals worldwide. This could potentially result in easier access to medical equipment for isolated communities worldwide. 'This approach could make additive manufacturing more competitive for higher-volume production compared with traditional processes like injection molding. Just as important, it opens up new design possibilities,' added Keldy Mason, lead author of the university study and a graduate student in Page's lab.
Daily Mail
16-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
SMALL CAP IDEA: Titanium demand strengthened by geopolitics
Titanium doesn't have the same buzz as lithium or rare earths, but its importance is climbing fast. Lightweight, strong, and corrosion-resistant, it's essential in everything from aerospace to medical implants, and increasingly, it's becoming a metal of strategic significance. The aerospace sector remains the heavyweight buyer. Titanium alloys are a go-to material for jet engines and airframes, offering the strength of steel at nearly half the weight. As commercial aviation recovers and global defence budgets swell, demand here is set to rise. But titanium's uses go well beyond the skies. In medicine, titanium is the metal of choice for implants. It doesn't react with the human body, making it ideal for surgical applications ranging from joint replacements to dental implants. Industrial uses Meanwhile, industrial uses continue in heat exchangers, offshore equipment, and high-performance parts that need to resist corrosion or operate at high temperatures. Then there's pigment-grade titanium dioxide (TiO₂), a compound used in paints, plastics and cosmetics. That market is less flashy but highly stable, and it offers cash flow potential for producers with the right purity levels. The real shift today, however, is geopolitical. Titanium sponge, the base material for alloys, has traditionally come from Russia and China. Sanctions and growing trade tensions are pushing governments and manufacturers to secure alternative sources. The US, UK, and EU have all flagged titanium as a critical raw material that needs a more resilient supply chain. Energy transition At the same time, the energy transition is giving titanium a new role. Offshore wind, hydrogen production, and geothermal energy all use titanium components to withstand tough environments. It's not as central to the green economy as copper or lithium, but its durability makes it hard to replace. For investors, that all adds up to a market with growing demand and renewed strategic value. High-purity titanium projects, especially those outside China and Russia, are now in the spotlight. That's why developments like Empire Metals ' Pitfield project, which just reported lab-scale results showing 99.25 per cent TiO₂ purity, are attracting attention. That level of refinement is big news. It opens the door to higher-value uses, including titanium sponge for aerospace alloys or high-grade pigment production. No secret sauce The key? Empire's processing team, working with ALS labs in Perth, used well-established methods: beneficiation, acid baking, leaching, and purification, all done on a bulk sample taken from near-surface drill cores. Crucially, it didn't need to 'seed' the process with external TiO2 this time, a sign of improved chemistry and recovery. This could make the production route more scalable and cost-effective down the line. Next steps include repeating the process on a 70-tonne bulk sample and shipping material to potential customers. With a £7million cash buffer and a maiden mineral resource estimate due soon, Empire is shifting gears from exploration to development. Panmure Liberum sees this as a pivotal milestone as Empire works to define the scale and economics of Pitfield. Pivotal milestone The initial resource is expected to confirm a vast titanium system, with earlier estimates pegging the exploration target at up to 32 billion tonnes at grades of 4.5 to 5.5 per cent. If Pitfield can deliver consistent, high-purity TiO2 using conventional, scalable techniques, it could become a rare western supply of titanium at a time when geopolitical tensions are encouraging buyers to diversify away from Chinese and Russian sources. For now, Empire is flying under the radar, but these results show it could be developing something far more significant than your average junior mining project. It's worth watching.
Reuters
09-05-2025
- Health
- Reuters
Health Rounds: Ultrasound triggers experimental 3D drug-delivery implants
May 9 (Reuters) - (To receive the full newsletter in your inbox for free sign up here) Ultrasound waves can penetrate through thick tissues and print medical implants inside a body, experiments in animals suggest. Researchers created 3D implants using focused ultrasound and ultrasound-responsive bioinks delivered via injection or catheter. The carefully guided ultrasound waves trigger localized heating, slightly above body temperature, that transforms the ink into a gel that can be printed into desired shapes and tailored for functions such as drug delivery and tissue replacement, according to a report published on Thursday in Science, opens new tab. Furthermore, the ultrasound imaging allows for real-time monitoring and customized pattern creation, the researchers said. In one experiment, the researchers printed drug-loaded biomaterials that delivered a chemotherapy drug to cancerous sites in a mouse bladder. They found substantially more tumor cell death for several days compared to animals that received the drug through direct injection. "We have already shown in a small animal that we can print drug-loaded hydrogels for tumor treatment," study leader Wei Gao of Caltech said in a statement. "Our next stage is to try to print in a larger animal model, and hopefully, in the near future, we can evaluate this in humans." A commentary, opens new tab published with the paper notes that refinements are still needed. 'Printing on organs that expand and contract, such as the lungs, heart, and stomach, presents additional challenges,' the commentary authors note. Healthcare workers who wash their scrubs at home may be unknowingly contributing to the spread of antibiotic-resistant infections in hospitals, researchers warned in a report published in PLoS One, opens new tab. To evaluate whether home washing machines successfully decontaminated healthcare worker uniforms, they washed contaminated fabric swatches in six different consumer-grade washing machines in hot water, using rapid and normal cycles. Half of the machines did not disinfect the clothing during a rapid cycle, while one third failed to clean sufficiently during the standard cycle. After each washing, DNA sequencing of biofilm samples from inside the machines revealed the presence of potentially pathogenic bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes. 'Our research shows that domestic washing machines often fail to disinfect textiles, allowing antibiotic-resistant bacteria to survive,' the report's authors said in a statement. Researchers also found that bacteria can develop resistance to domestic detergents, which also increased their resistance to certain antibiotics. They propose that the laundering guidelines given to healthcare workers should be revised to ensure that home washing machines are cleaning effectively. 'If we're serious about transmission of infectious disease via textiles and tackling antimicrobial resistance, we must rethink how we launder what our healthcare workers wear,' the researchers said. (This is an excerpt of the Health Rounds newsletter, where we present latest medical studies on Tuesdays and Thursdays. To receive the full newsletter in your inbox for free sign up here.)
