Desktop Genetics Ltd.

“These first cases are not only indicative of a new generation of biomaterials, but also highlight our technology platform’s unique capability to rapidly create biomaterials that direct cell behavior to restore tissue and organ function,” said Adam Jakus, Ph.D., Dimension’s CTO, pictured here with his co-founder and CSO Ramille Shah, Ph.D. Several months after earning FDA clearance, a 3D-printed bone graft product is gaining steam, having now been used in a handful of surgical procedures. The product in question is CMFlex, which was developed by Dimension Inx. It’s a synthetic bone graft material that’s customized to each individual patient and, once implanted, is designed to promote natural regeneration of the nearby bones. CMFlex was cleared by the FDA in December 2022, making it the first 3D-printed regenerative bone graft product to earn a green light from the regulator. It’s indicated for use in surgeries to correct maxillofacial, mandibular and dental bone defects. The synthetic material has now been used across all of those indications, according to an announcement this week from Desktop Health, maker of the 3D printer used to churn out CMFlex. The first upper and lower jaw surgeries took place in North Carolina and Connecticut, while an Illinois-based oral surgeon has also used CMFlex in several dental socket preservation surgeries ahead of future dental implant placements. The bone graft product is currently available only to a handful of surgeons, but Dimension is planning to increase its reach throughout 2024. “These first cases are not only indicative of a new generation of biomaterials, but also highlight our technology platform’s unique capability to rapidly create biomaterials that direct cell behavior to restore tissue and organ function,” Adam Jakus, Ph.D., Dimension’s co-founder and CTO, said in the announcement. “It is a proud moment for us to be able to demonstrate the value of therapeutics derived from integrating novel biomaterial design and 3D-printing approaches,” he added. CMFlex is made from a material developed by Dimension and dubbed Hyperelastic Bone. It’s a combination of particles of the natural mineral hydroxyapatite and a biodegradable polylactide-co-glycolide (PLG) polymer, which together create a material that’s designed to integrate well into the human body and encourage its own replacement with regenerating bone. The material is also absorbent and can therefore help the body reach hemostasis by controlling bleeding during surgical procedures, according to its maker. Dimension uses Desktop’s 3D-Bioplotter machines to 3D print the material into the CMFlex bone grafts, which can be precisely sized to each patient. In a statement shared by Dimension last month, Derek Steinbacher, M.D., who performed the Connecticut-based surgery, attested that CMFlex “boasts excellent handling characteristics, and the fact it can also be cut and trimmed to easily match the defect site made it an exceptional product to work with.” North Carolina-based Brian Farrell, D.D.S., M.D., meanwhile, praised how “the material was easy to contour.”

The medical device company and Desktop Labs will work together on advanced restorative workflows that will be connected with the Align Digital Platform to encourage the use of digital restorative dentistry Align Technology and Desktop Metal have partnered to supply iTero Element Flex scanners to Desktop Labs. (Credit: Business Wire) US-based medical device company Align Technology has entered into a partnership with additive manufacturing technologies firm Desktop Metal to supply its iTero Element Flex intraoral scanners to the latter’s Desktop Labs. The firms agreed to make iTero Element Flex as the preferred restorative scanner for Desktop Labs, which is a lab network in the US that serves general dentists. The iTero Element Flex intraoral scanner will help Desktop Labs connect general dentist locations with its network of full-service labs. According to Align Technology, the iTero Element Flex intraoral scanner gives clinicians with more freedom and mobility to treat patients. The wand-only configuration of the scanner is said to enable them to complete full arch scans in even the tiniest of offices. The firm said that the vibrant colour scanning and visualisation make clinical evaluations faster and improve chairside consultations with patients. It can also send restorative STL files directly to the lab or export them from the iTero cloud to help doctors to work in a more efficient manner with dental labs. Align Technology president and CEO Joe Hogan said: “We see great potential in enabling dentists to scan patients and then use the scan data to directly order restorative services or print-ready digital files from Desktop Labs that can be 3D printed in their offices. “In addition to iTero scanners, we’re also excited about extending the benefits of the Align Digital Platform, including the Invisalign system and exocad software, to Desktop Labs customers.” Desktop Labs offers GP dentists digital design and manufacturing solutions using a variety of technologies such as Desktop Health 3D printers and materials. The Desktop Metal subsidiary is said to employ Einstein 3D printers and Flexcera Class 2 materials for fabricating permanent dental restorations. Desktop Health is also a subsidiary of Desktop Metal. Desktop Metal founder and CEO Ric Fulop said: “We expect all restorative components to move to digital manufacturing within the next decade, enabled by better material properties and an improved fit, as well as expansion of insurance coverage to digital solutions. “Offerings such as Desktop Health’s Flexcera resins are just the beginning of the innovations being enabled by rapid, customised mass production through premium 3D printing tools such as the Desktop Health Einstein printer.”