Medical material technology
The University of Pécs 3D Printing and Visualisation Centre is an innovative research hub equipped to satisfy 21st century needs, where modern 3D technologies and equipment created with these machines is tested for medical technology uses. Almost all types of plastic and composite material additive printing technologies (3D printing) are available in the Center. In the case of polymers, researchers, doctors and engineers have selective laser sintering (SLS), fused filament fabrication (FFF), stereolithography (SLA) and material jetting (Polyjet™) technology printers at their disposal. For metals, they can use a fused filament technology (ADAM) printer.
The analysis of materials used is done by taking the characteristics of the technologies into account; the results are used for designing user-specific tools as well. The completed samples are tested in our own laboratory equipped with Zwick/Roell material testing machinery, which is unique in the region. Exceeding engineering tests, the validation of medical uses is done in the Biomechanical Laboratory and the Medical Skills Education and Innovation Centre.
Our work so far includes the development of a myoelectric upper limb prosthesis, orthoses used in rehabilitation of post-stroke patients, several hand-held or complex tools witnessed by a series of publications in international scientific journals, and 3 patents.