The product development activities of the 3D Printing and Visualisation Centre support the development of technical systems, experimental equipment and prototypes related to medical and health sciences research. The aim of these developments is to create technical solutions that contribute, either directly or indirectly, to clinical research, biomedical studies and university-level innovation in the health sciences.
This work typically takes place in an interdisciplinary environment, where engineering design, additive manufacturing and the development of embedded systems are tailored to the needs of medical research. The starting point for the development process is typically a clinical, educational or research problem, which is then implemented as a technical system.
Links to medicine and health sciences
Product development activities are closely integrated into the research and teaching environment of the UP Clinical Centre and the Medical School. The developments focus on systems that:
- are designed to support biomedical measurements
- relate to experimental and preclinical research
- support educational, demonstration and simulation purposes
- provide solutions to technical requirements arising from clinical settings
- enable the development of tools that are compatible with research protocols
The Centre’s role in this chain is to translate clinical or research requirements into technical specifications, and then to implement and integrate them at the prototype stage.
Areas of development and application
- technical support for biomedical research
- technical support for the measurement requirements of clinical research
- device developments relating to clinical research projects
- modelling and supporting surgical and experimental procedures
- the development of equipment used in laboratory and pre-clinical studies
- the development of bespoke prototypes for medical and biological trials
- the use of additive manufacturing for demonstration and simulation tools in medical training
- interdisciplinary (medical–engineering) research collaborations
Development and modernisation of 3D printers
The video showcases the 3D Centre’s expertise in prototype development, as well as how bespoke engineering design, prototype manufacturing and functional validation are integrated into a single development process. It also demonstrates an integrated development approach in which rapid iterations and state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies, based on research requirements, are used to create innovative hardware solutions tailored to user needs.