Additive Manufacturing for Medical
Elmet Technologies is leading the way in providing innovative solutions for the medical industry through additive manufacturing. This advanced technology offers significant performance advantages for various medical applications. It enables the creation of porous structures that enhance bone osteointegration, allows for the customization of material properties to optimize implant design, and reduces the overall mass of parts. Compared to traditional manufacturing methods, medical additive manufacturing provides several benefits, including the ability to create complex geometries, shorter patient wait times, and improved surgical accuracy.
Additive Manufacturing Medical Materials
Printing Solutions for the Future of Medical
Materials:
- Tantalum (Ta)
- Molybdenum (Mo)
Products:
- Spinal Implants
- Cheek Implants
- Bone Screws
Advanced Refractory Metal Collimator Solutions
Elmet Technologies is the global leader in delivering state-of-the-art molybdenum and tungsten collimator systems to the medical imaging industry. We work in close partnership with leading system OEMs to develop advanced solutions that not only meet the high-performance expectations of patients but also align with the needs of healthcare providers.
Tungsten and Molybdenum Collimators
Elmet Technologies specializes in manufacturing tungsten and molybdenum collimators for medical applications using advanced additive manufacturing techniques. These collimators are essential for radiation management in computerized tomography (CT) scanning and radiotherapy.
Materials & Properties:
- Tungsten and Molybdenum: These refractory metals are ideal for absorbing X-rays due to their high density (10-19g/cc) and excellent attenuation characteristics. They also offer high mechanical strength and stiffness, making them suitable for precision applications like anti-scatter grids and multi-leaf collimators.
Applications:
- CT Scanning: Collimators focus dispersive X-ray sources into manageable parallel beams or absorb scattered rays, enhancing image quality and reducing patient X-ray dosage.
- Radiotherapy: Collimators shape the radiation beam to match the targeted cancer cells, improving the precision of treatments.
Manufacturing Techniques:
- Additive Manufacturing: Elmet Technologies uses advanced techniques such as 3D screen printing to produce high-resolution tungsten alloy parts. This method allows for the creation of intricate components with precise specifications.
- Quality Assurance: High-capability inspection equipment ensures that all fabricated components meet stringent quality standards through contact-free quality assurance processes.
By leveraging additive manufacturing, Elmet Technologies can produce tungsten and molybdenum collimators that enhance the performance and safety of medical imaging and radiotherapy devices.
High-Performance 1D and 2D Collimators
Elmet delivers a comprehensive range of 1D and 2D collimator solutions, leveraging our engineering expertise to optimize quality and efficiency in manufacturing customer designs. Our advanced capabilities position us at the forefront of collimator technologies.
Produced on a precision rolling mill, our molybdenum collimator foil meets strict standards for thickness tolerance, surface finish, and flatness, with thicknesses less than 0.002″ (0.05mm). Molybdenum excels in X-ray collimator applications due to its high rigidity and density, ensuring clarity by blocking unwanted X-rays that cause image distortion.
Why Additive Manufacturing for Medical Applications?
- Customization: It offers unparalleled design freedom, enabling rapid and efficient customization of medical devices and structures.
- Precision: It allows for the creation of devices with extremely tight tolerances, crucial for applications like implants where accuracy is paramount.
- Reduced Waste: Compared to traditional techniques, additive manufacturing generates significantly less waste, enhancing profitability and reducing compliance risks.
- Faster Production: 3D printing can complete projects in just a few hours, making it a faster option for product production.
