News: Fripp Design up for 3D4D challenge
Experts from Fripp Design and Research, based at the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham, have reached the final of an industry competition that aims to develop 3D printing technologies to deliver real social benefits in the developing world.
The 3D4D challenge recognises a number of projects harnessing the benefits of 3D printing and Fripp has been working on a project for the manufacturer of soft tissue prostheses.
Working with the University of Sheffield and with funding from the Wellcome Trust, Fripp has developed a system to fabricate soft tissue prostheses for patients suffering from facial deformities as a result of disease or serious accidents.
Using 3D printing technology dramatically reduces the time and cost of manufacture without need for invasive procedures. A patient can quickly obtain necessary replacements without having to revisit the clinic.
Fripp Design's focus to date has been to develop a commercial offer for the UK National Health Service. With a top prize of $100,000 going to the winner, the 3D4D challenge provides an opportunity to develop a low cost system for the developing world so that people in local communities can manufacture soft tissue prostheses for themselves.
Tom Fripp of Fripp Design and Research, said:"We have developed the technology to be able to 3D print soft tissue prostheses but are now struggling to bring it to market in the UK because of the many issues surrounding ethical approval, which involve a lot of paper work.
"The UK does not have the same problem to solve [as the developing world] as there is no shortage of prosthetic technicians and NHS funding is often available. Our technology cannot quite match the quality of their work but in poorer countries such technicians are both expensive and scarce."
This is just one project that the experts are working on. Through a separate part of the company called Applied Industrial Design, technology and technical expertise is being applied to design solutions to address other healthcare problems.
Tom added: "It has taken four or five years to develop the technology for this project. As a business, we started out as an industrial design company and although we were aware of 3D printing, it was just a tool. We now develop products and processes for medical or healthcare providers."
The winners of the 3D4D challenge will be announced at the 3D Printshow in London on Friday October 19.
Fripp Design website
The 3D4D challenge recognises a number of projects harnessing the benefits of 3D printing and Fripp has been working on a project for the manufacturer of soft tissue prostheses.
Working with the University of Sheffield and with funding from the Wellcome Trust, Fripp has developed a system to fabricate soft tissue prostheses for patients suffering from facial deformities as a result of disease or serious accidents.
Using 3D printing technology dramatically reduces the time and cost of manufacture without need for invasive procedures. A patient can quickly obtain necessary replacements without having to revisit the clinic.
Fripp Design's focus to date has been to develop a commercial offer for the UK National Health Service. With a top prize of $100,000 going to the winner, the 3D4D challenge provides an opportunity to develop a low cost system for the developing world so that people in local communities can manufacture soft tissue prostheses for themselves.
Tom Fripp of Fripp Design and Research, said:"We have developed the technology to be able to 3D print soft tissue prostheses but are now struggling to bring it to market in the UK because of the many issues surrounding ethical approval, which involve a lot of paper work.
"The UK does not have the same problem to solve [as the developing world] as there is no shortage of prosthetic technicians and NHS funding is often available. Our technology cannot quite match the quality of their work but in poorer countries such technicians are both expensive and scarce."
This is just one project that the experts are working on. Through a separate part of the company called Applied Industrial Design, technology and technical expertise is being applied to design solutions to address other healthcare problems.
Tom added: "It has taken four or five years to develop the technology for this project. As a business, we started out as an industrial design company and although we were aware of 3D printing, it was just a tool. We now develop products and processes for medical or healthcare providers."
The winners of the 3D4D challenge will be announced at the 3D Printshow in London on Friday October 19.
Fripp Design website
2 comments:
Good luck Steve, Sue, Tom and the team you deserve to win you are a great team from all at Enviro Thaw.
Washington Open Object Fabricators (WOOF) won The 3D4D Challenge. WOOF’s winning project will enable waste plastic to be used as filament for 3D printing machines, to create new products.
Fripp Design and Research's 3D printed soft tissue prostheses project received the award for second place.
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