Tutorials

How To Properly Sterilize FDM Parts

4 0 Intermediate
Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is an additive manufacturing technology that is used in industry for development of three-dimensional models. Because of its ability to provide highly accurate models, FDM may offer many benefits to those wishing to use it for a range of medical applications. FDM can be used to build models that aid physicians in the surgical planning process or in the production of a surgical implant. It can be used to achieve a patient’s agreement prior to surgery by providing a preoperative simulation device. During surgery, an FDM model can act as an orienting aid or a template for resection. FDM can also be used to directly manufacture medical implants out of bioimplantable materials. However, such surgical devices and implants will come into direct contact with sterile body tissues and fluids, and therefore, must be manufactured out of sterilizable materials.