Among the industries using rapid prototyping frequently, the medical industry affects us closely. This fast-growing industry gets better each year with new rapid prototyping methods driving innovations.
These innovations are seen in medical product design, surgeries, prosthetics, and other healthcare fields. There are now human tissue models and several other anatomical parts for complex surgical operations. This technology is beyond offering prototype parts manufacturing to provide sample models for testing by doctors and patients.
That said, it is clear that prototyping plays a vital role in the medical industry. Technological advancements now create new possibilities for the future of medical instrument and products design. In this article, we will take a look at how you can bring your ideas to life with medical device prototyping.
RapidDirect’s one-stop company for medical prototyping
RapidDirect offers one of the largest production capacities for rapid prototyping in China. With several prototyping technologies and constant expansion of its offerings, this company provides rapid prototyping services for the medical industry.
Once you are on the platform, you have access to the following and more:
Instant AI quoting system
RapidDirect’s instant quoting platform is a cutting-edge technology that helps analyse your designs when you upload. This technology enables you to get an instant CNC quote at any time. The starting point of your medical prototyping journey is receiving quotes. You don’t want to have a shaky start with the back-and-forth exchanging of files and quotation delays.
The constant improvements on the algorithms of this platform help the company to constantly meet the demands of numerous data that come with design files. The interactive system recognises your design and gives instant automated quotes in seconds.
Transparent manufacturing process and real-time tracking
The chance to keep tabs on the manufacturing of your products is a significant advantage. RapidDirect’s manufacturing process is transparent. You get expert advice and opinions before the process begins. During the process, you can also track the progress of your project in real-time to ensure that everything goes on as designed.
One-stop solution from prototyping to NPI and mass production
With continuous innovations in medical device prototyping, the complexity in design also keeps increasing. Thus, you need a facility that can handle such complexity. RapidDirect offers such an advantage, handling complex designs and supplying scarce materials.
The extensive partner network of this company ensures easy sourcing of parts. You will also get a large selection of materials in the online platform, ranging from metals to plastics and many others. Surface finishing also comes easy with plenty of alternatives for custom-designed parts. This is the perfect manufacturing solution from prototyping to mass production.
What types of technologies are used in medical prototype production?
There are various manufacturing techniques for medical prototypes. They include the following:
CNC machining
Machining medical instruments requires high levels of accuracy and precision, making CNC machining the most preferred choice in this industry. CNC machines help to accomplish the tight tolerances and complex geometries of sophisticated medical devices while requiring minimal post-processing.
Any variations in the specifications of medical devices or products could be disastrous. CNC machining reduces this risk to the barest minimum. The programming of CNC machine tools also allows them to navigate at different speed rates to give specific patterns within a short period.
Not only is this process more robust and efficient, but it also saves time and costs in the long run. CNC machining is effective for the following medical applications:
- Surgical instruments e.g., surgical scissors, blade handles, implant holders, cutters, forceps, biopsy tubes, etc.
- Micromachined parts e.g., stents, catheters, ophthalmic devices, miniature implant screws, pacemaker components, etc.
- Electronic medical equipment e.g., X-ray machines, heart rate monitors, and MRI scanners.
- Medical implants.
Injection moulding
Things move very quickly in the medical industry, with novel illnesses found often. Within the last few years, there has been a considerable increase in demand for efficient and cost-effective medical components. Plastic injection moulding is the best solution to that challenge. Medical device designers can take advantage of high-quality injection molding technology to iterate prototypes rapidly.
Such rapid iteration is essential for the medical industry to get custom-made parts ready in time. Moreover, it is an efficient method for boosting production volume and reducing parts costs. The right moulding tools also ensure easy scalability and repeatability of this process to a high level of accuracy. Injection moulding helps to manufacture materials like:
- Catheters
- IV tubes
- Disposables
- Insulin pens
- Surgical gloves
- Implants
- Personal protective equipment
Besides, the advent of vacuum casting makes the process even more valuable. Vacuum casting is the right choice whenever you need medical products for low-volume production. Injection moulding sometimes requires dedicated solid metal tooling, making it less cost-effective for low-volume production. Thus, it is better to create a few prototypes first with vacuum casting before mass production of injection moulding.
3D printing
This rapid prototyping technology is a perfect choice for custom-made medical parts. It is also suitable for complex parts because it encompasses several different technologies. One of them is direct metal laser sintering (DMLS). This additive manufacturing technique has several benefits for the medical industry.
It helps print high-resolution parts that support instrumentation designs and many more. Whenever you consider rapid prototyping for surgical tools with delicate features, DMLS is the right choice.
Besides, 3d printing is accelerating the mass customisation in medical industry. Right now, Custom-designed prosthesis with 3D printing is a much faster process than the traditional method. It is also a more cost-effective process.
Try out the parts order journey at RapidDirect
The healthcare sector is driven by urgency, and you should not have to wait for days or weeks to get your manufacturing quotes. RapidDirect’s parts order makes it easy for you. Try it out in these straightforward steps:
Step 1 – Upload your design files in the instant quoting platform, allowing you to import part designs for a single quote.
Step 2 – Select the desired manufacturing process, then go on to choose the best materials and finishes from the extensive array available.
Step 3 – Confirm your order, and you will get automated quotes within seconds.
RapidDirect offers short lead times for your medical device prototyping. The team of expert engineers are available at every production stage, from quotation to part delivery. Get free quote today!
Final thoughts
The medical industry has gone a long way from natural remedies to printing body parts. The tremendous development in medicine extends life expectancy and enhances our lifestyles. Rapid prototyping is a significant player, speeding up these technological advancements. Thus, medical practitioners have realistic representations for experimentation.
Rapid medical prototyping narrows the gap between concept generation and eventual commercialisation. We expect to see so much more in the future.
