Multi-material 3D Printing Complex Anatomical Structures with a Biomimetic Material for Enhanced Military Medical Training

Impressio proposes the development of a multi-material 3D inkjet printing system capable of printing LCEs, a conductive polymer, and non-curable liquids. LCEs are a biomimetic material that has been developed for medical device implants as a simulant for cartilage, intervertebral disc, and tendons. The system utilizes a custom software package as a volumetric pixel (voxel) geometry compiler to enhance the capabilities of multi-material 3D printing over traditional CAD software. Liquid-solid co-printing will allow for embedding complex structures within manikin consumables and anatomical medical models. These complex structures can simulate blood vessels/arteries or pockets of air/liquid to increase fidelity of training simulators for enhanced military medical training. The combination of voxel CAD and multi-material inkjet printing allows for microstructure topology adjustments to tailor a composite to a specific soft tissue simulant. During the Phase I feasibility study, a LCE sample will be 3D printed to simulate healthy and burned skin. A sample will be created with liquid-solid co-printing to demonstrate the ability to 3D print soft tissue simulants with complex internal structures. A 3D chest cavity will be printed with simplified geometry to show the ability to produce a medical model prototype in a subsequent Phase II effort for training of the needle decompression medical procedure.