Orthopedics

From prototype to full production. Faster.

The time is now. To revolutionize medical implants and remove barriers to customizations. For the ready, we have a way to get there faster. To drive productivity and customization and improve safety and patient care. When you’re ready to deliver cost-efficient, patient-specific orthopedic implants using AM, the pioneers of full metal additive production are ready to help.

Additive Benefits for the Medical and Orthopedic Industry

Design freedom for medical implants
Additive Manufacturing provides you the flexibility to customize the implant for patient needs, achieve desired mechanical properties, and ease surgery. 

Medical implant complexity
You can add features to increase functionality and effectiveness of the implant without increasing production steps or costs.

Mechanics of the body  
You can design porosity and pore size, as well as interconnectivity of trabecular structures to allow for enhanced initial fixation and bone ingrowth.

One medical implant 
AM enables integrated trabecular structures that reduce risk of delamination and simplify the supply chain because the implant is made in one step—and one part. 

Flexible and efficient production
AM is suitable for both serial production and manufacturing of mixed implant designs and sizes, without the need for change in hardware configuration. This allows for minimal waste and high productivity.
 

Added value for spinal implants through AM

Already, leaders in orthopedics are going to market with metal additive implants and shaping the future of patient care. Download our whitepaper "From Powder to Spinal Cage Production: Added Value for Spinal Implants through Additive Manufacturing", where we share some insights in additive spinal cage production and its surface topography. 

Applications

  1. Joint implants

    Joint implants

    Trabecular structured surfaces on implant components for joint replacements
  2. Cranio-Maxillofacial implants

    Cranio-Maxillofacial implants

    Replacements in head, face and jaw regions
  3. Spinal implants

    Spinal implants

    Spinal fusion

  4. Surgical instruments

    Surgical instruments

    Tools for performing specific actions during an operation

AP&C powders are ideal for orthopedic implants

We create certified, high-performing powders for the orthopedic industry, taking into account a variety of mechanical behavior design data and material science.

  • Highly spherical, low-porosities, minimal satellite content
  • Excellent flowability and packing density
  • Wide range of PSDs available
  • ISO13485 certified
     

GE's AddWorks™ offerings

Collaborate alongside global leaders in metal additive to strengthen your entry into the manufacturing of high-precision, patient-specific implants and instruments. 

What are our Workshops? Learn foundational knowledge and additive strategies in a classroom environment. Workshops typically run three to five days. 

What are our Application Sprints? Get comprehensive support anywhere on your path to production with workshops and training, and/or hands-on consulting with GE’s AddWorks experts. 

Scaling for growth

 

Additive manufacturing allows us to make things with and for our customers that we could not previously make before. Using titanium powder, we can manufacture implants with complex geometries and porous structures to encourage bone growth. That complexity and innovation cannot be achieved using traditional techniques, such as milling.

– HENK JANSEN, Managing Director, FMI Instrumed

 

 

Our machine solutions

Our experts will help you find the right machine type for your orthopedic application.

  1. Arcam EBM Q10plus
    EBM

    Arcam EBM Q10plus

    Optimized for serial production of orthopedic implants
  2. Concept Laser M2 Series 5
    DMLM

    Concept Laser M2 Series 5

    Enabling consistent and repeatable part quality at scale
  3. Concept Laser Mlab R
    DMLM

    Concept Laser Mlab R

    Fast and efficient production of high surface quality parts – with minimal footprint 

     
  4. Concept Laser Mlab 200R
    DMLM

    Concept Laser Mlab 200R

    Fast and efficient production of high surface quality parts – with minimal footprint 

Case studies

Speed & Scale in the Spinal Sector

Read more

MT Ortho harnesses additive technology to manufacture customized prostheses for cranioplasty and bone cancer patients

Read more

Nexxt Spine continues investment in additive to drive medical device innovation 

Read more

Reimagining knee replacements with additive technology and artificial intelligence

Read more

Scaling for growth

Read more

Bone machine: 3D printing is revolutionizing plastic surgery

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Love At First Touch: Brazilian Doctor Uses 3D Printing To Help Blind Parents Feel Baby’s Ultrasound

Read more

Additive at the cutting edge of joint replacement surgery

Read more

100,000 patients later: The 3D-printed hip is a decade old and going strong

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Québec’s CRIQ selects GE Additive Arcam EBM to explore use of additive for patient-specific jaw reconstruction

Read more

Discover new growth potential for your business

We’ll get to know your needs and priorities to help determine the machines and materials that can accelerate innovation in your business.