Research advances laser printed medical devices

Led by researchers at Lancaster University, the team has shown that it is possible to directly print these electrical structures on or in living organisms.

The research is at proof of concept stage, but the team believes this type of process has the potential to print patient-specific implants for applications including real-time health monitoring and medical interventions. The team’s findings are detailed in Advanced Material Technologies.

In a statement, Dr John Hardy, senior lecturer in materials chemistry at Lancaster University and one of the lead authors of the study, said: “This approach potentially transforms the manufacture of complex 3D electronics for technical and medical applications – including structures for communication, displays, and sensors, for example. Such approaches could revolutionise the way we implant but also repair medical devices. For example, one day technologies like this could be used to fix broken implanted electronics through a process similar to laser dental/eye surgery. Once fully mature, such technology could transform a currently major operation into a much simpler, faster, safer and cheaper procedure.”