Belgium’s firm Materialise has partnered with US-based Tissue Regeneration Systems (TRS) to manufacture 3D-printed tracheal splints for use in clinical trials.
Materialise’s Mimics Innovation Suite will be used to design the 3D-printed tracheal splints. The suite was constructed from a bioresorbable technology platform, which was licensed by the University of Michigan to TRS in 2007.
The splints will be used to treat tracheobronchomalacia (TBM), a condition affecting one in 2,220 babies that can cause the airway to spontaneously collapse.
TRS received its first commercial product clearance from the FDA in 2013, after several years of refining fabrication methods.
Materialise USA managing director Bryan Crutchfield said: "The collaboration between TRS and Materialise will provide production capacity for the tracheal splint, which will allow the splint to be available to a larger number of infants who are affected with TBM."
Tissue Regeneration Systems CEO Jim Fitzsimmons said: "We are excited to have the opportunity to impact the lives of children affected with TBM through the production of the tracheal splint."
Materialise provides additive manufacturing (AM) software solutions and 3D printing services in a wide variety of industries, including healthcare, automotive and aerospace.
TRS is involved in commercializing skeletal reconstruction and bone regeneration technology platform developed from research conducted at the Universities of Michigan and Wisconsin.