Today, Stratasys announced a new collaboration with Worrell. This relationship between a leading 3D printing company and a design and product development firm will provide the right background to speed up work in the field of 3D printed medical device development. 
The two biggest difficulties in bringing new medical devices to market come from regulations and high tooling costs. The FDA tends to keep a very close hold on regulations for medical applications, requiring prototypes and proof of efficacy before giving any new product a green light. In addition to stringent watch, costs tend to be high in terms of both dollars and time.
Traditional tooling for new product development is fairly extensive; new molds are made with each iteration of a prototype prior to final form manufacturing. This process requires potentially long development periods and significant material and other tooling costs.
Kai Worrell, Worrell’s CEO, described the process:
“We were recently approached by medical device startup MedTG to design and engineer a dual-flow needleless blood collection system that reduced the need for multiple injections, thereby increasing patient comfort and hospital efficiency. Utilizing 3D printed injection molds to prototype the device, we were able to reduce the costs associated with traditional tooling by approximately 70%, as well as cutting times by 95%.”
The Objet500 Connex 3D Printer from Stratasys is seen on Worrell’s manufacturing floor
Medical device prototype made from polycarbonate, just as the final device will be, created via 3D printed injection molds
“Using 3D printed injection molds, we are able to create a prototype for a fraction of the cost and in a matter of days compared to the eight-week lead time associated with traditional tooling processes. This revolutionary manufacturing process enabled by Stratasys PolyJet technology is now an integral part of our product development cycle, allowing us to provide better prototypes for care providers, while saving our clients considerable time and money,” continued Mr. Worrell.
Printing up prototypes on the Stratasys Objet500 Connex 3D printer located on their own manufacturing floor, Worrell could keep a close eye on the speedy process. The printer creates injection molding tools and injects the same materials that will ultimately be used in the finished product to produce functional, close-to-final-quality prototypes.
Below is a visual from Stratasys detailing the cost and time savings possible using 3D printed injection molds in prototyping:
What do you think of this new partnership? Discuss in the Stratasys / Worrell Partnership forum thread on 3DPB.com.