Innovative Materials, Creative Life! Practical Applications of eSUN 3D Printing Materials in the Medical Field

As a new form of productivity, 3D printing technology is making a significant impact across various industries. In the medical field, applications of 3D printing have expanded from medical models, guides, and rehabilitation aids to the design and manufacturing of implants, such as tissue engineering scaffolds, cells, and organs.

With a wide range of high-performance 3D printing materials, eSUN provides diverse solutions for users in education, healthcare, industry, and art design. This article focuses on the applications of eSUN 3D printing materials in the medical field.

Applications of 3D Printed Surgical Guides

3D printed surgical guides enable a higher level of customization and surgical precision, offering patients safer and more efficient healthcare services. For example, 3D printed guides for radiology, orthopedic, dental implant, and spinal surgeries have already seen widespread clinical use.

When selecting 3D printing materials for medical applications, factors such as biocompatibility, mechanical strength, and printing precision are essential. Currently, eSUN’s PLA+, PLA-ST, eResin-PLA Pro, and Surgical Guide Resins have been widely used by downstream users for making 3D printed guides and surgical models.

1.Radiology Surgical Guides Made with PLA+ Material

eSUN’s polylactic acid (PLA) materials offer excellent printability and biocompatibility. Some customers have used PLA+ material to create radiology surgical guides, reporting good results with adequate toughness, strength, and aesthetic quality, meeting the requirements of medical device certification.

2.Applications of eSUN Surgical Guide Resin

eSUN’s Surgical Guide Resin (SG100) was launched in June this year, receiving FDA and CE certifications. It offers excellent biocompatibility, high mechanical strength, low water absorption, high-temperature steam sterilization resistance, and easy polishability, making it ideal for orthodontic guides, surgical guides, functional retainers, bite plates, X-ray guides, and other orthodontic accessories.

Models printed with eSUN’s dental guide resin exhibit higher precision and dimensional stability, enhancing the accuracy of implant placement, direction, and angle during surgery. The resin can be sterilized with high-pressure steam, increasing surgical safety by preventing damage to critical structures, thus greatly improving the patient experience.

3.Applications of eResin-PLA Pro

eResin-PLA Pro is synthesized from self-produced PLA polyol, offering low odor, high precision, and detailed surface quality with minimal layer lines. It has passed biocompatibility testing, is low-irritant, and is safe for both human and environmental use, making it suitable for surgical guides and related models.

eSUN Dental Resin for Digital Dental Care

Dental applications are a key area for 3D printing development, yet material limitations can directly impact treatment efficiency. To address these challenges, eSUN has launched a series of dental photopolymer resins, including SG100 Surgical Guide Resin, OM100 Orthodontic Model Resin, DM100 Restorative Model Resin, DC100 Dental Casting Resin, WO100 Water-Washable Orthodontic Resin, CT100 Customized Tray Resin, GM100 Gingiva Simulation Resin, and TC100 Temporary Crown and Bridge Resin. These materials are widely used in dental clinics and related institutions.

TPU and TPE Applications in Orthopedic Insoles

In applications for 3D printed orthopedic insoles and footwear, flexible materials like TPU and TPE are playing an increasingly important role.

For example, TPU-95A filament has excellent elasticity, flexibility, tear resistance, abrasion resistance, and cut resistance, with high hardness and rebound properties, making it ideal for insoles and related applications.In 2022, eSUN, in collaboration with Wanhua Chemical, developed an antibacterial TPU 3D printing material. Insoles printed with this filament can effectively inhibit fungal and bacterial growth, achieving an antibacterial rate of over 99.9%.

iSUN3D entered the field of 3D digital rehabilitation healthcare in 2017, gradually developing a comprehensive solution for foot and spine rehabilitation. As one of the first manufacturers in China to launch 3D-printed customized corrective insoles, the company led the drafting of the group standard for “3D Printed Orthopedic Insoles.” iSUN3D’s orthopedic insole solutions have been recognized by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology as a typical additive manufacturing application. Currently, the company operates a 2,000-square-meter production base in Longhua, Shenzhen, meeting ISO13485 medical device quality management standards, and its products are internationally certified (FCC, CE, Reach, ROHS), now serving over 50 countries and regions worldwide.

Applications of ABS, Low-Temperature PCL, and PP in Spinal Orthoses and Rehabilitation Braces

Strength and durability are essential in spinal orthoses and rehabilitation braces. eSUN’s ABS material provides high impact strength and durability, making it an effective choice for orthopedic braces and rehabilitation devices, offering solid support and protection to patients. Additionally, eSUN’s recently launched high-temperature ABS material boasts a heat distortion temperature of up to 100°C, maintaining stability in high-temperature environments without deforming.

eSUN’s low-temperature PCL material offers excellent shape memory properties—when reshaping is required, it can be reheated and molded again, either fully or partially. It has good tensile strength, is radiolucent, and offers excellent thermoplasticity, making it an ideal external fixation material for radiotherapy positioning and orthopedic applications. It can be used in the production of rehabilitation splints, patient fixation systems in radiation oncology, orthoses, and dental trays. In practice, it provides firm support, resists wear without detachment or breakage, and is easy to operate and fix in place.

In the field of orthopedic braces, PP material also offers advantages, such as high resistance to deformation, making it suitable for various body types. It is lightweight and comfortable for daily wear, providing ease and convenience for patients.

PEEK and PLA Applications in Implants

In 2022, eSUN officially established its biomedical materials sub-brand, eSUNMED. Leveraging the company’s expertise in the research and application of biomaterials, eSUN launched medical-grade PLA and PEEK 3D printing materials. These materials are produced in cleanrooms and adhere to strict medical quality management standards, offering excellent biocompatibility, superior sterility, and easy processability.

Polylactic Acid (PLA) has high biocompatibility, allowing it to be used within the body without causing significant immune reactions or tissue rejection. This property makes PLA widely applicable in medical implants. eSUN’s medical-grade PLA filament is suitable for various medical applications, including tissue engineering scaffolds, cardiovascular stents, bone fixation, and bone repair materials, such as resorbable screws and resorbable bone plates.

PEEK offers exceptional heat resistance, high mechanical properties, and chemical stability, making it suitable for applications in spine, trauma, and orthopedic joints.

3D printing technology offers creative solutions to address complex clinical issues, with materials playing a critical role in the success of medical applications. eSUN will continue to lead 3D printing in healthcare through material innovation, providing patients with a better and more convenient experience.