U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves first ever 3D-printed spine implant to treat injuries

It has become quite clear that there are many potential biomedical device applications for 3D printing technology. Now a medical device manufacturer based in Germany has announced that it has just received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expand their product offerings by producing a 3D-printed cervical device that can be used in the treatment of certain spinal defects and injuries.

According to the announcement, which was posted on the official website of Emerging Implant Technologies GmbH (EIT), the FDA has given them clearance for the expansion of the label of their so-called EIT Cellular Titanium Cervical Cage, which is said to be designed for use in multiple contiguous cervical levels, namely C2 to T1. Cellular Titanium is described as a “3D printed porous titanium structure” that was designed specifically based on “scientific insights on ideal pore shape and size to optimize cell proliferation and bone ingrowth.”