Xtant Medical Teams With University on Bone Graft 3-D Printer

Xtant Medical Holdings Inc has teamed up with the Montana State University Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering to create a 3-D printer capable of printing resorbable bone grafts.

The custom 3-D printer was made by a team of student engineers, using a grant from Bacterin (an Xtant subsidiary) and its research and development team.

“We strongly believe that 3-D printing has a place in the creation of innovative, regenerative bio-scaffolds,” said Daniel Cox, Bacterin’s product development specialist. “The production of a custom 3-D printer capable of printing bone constructs for the medical needs of patients supports our interest in further investigating the possibilities in this space. Additionally, it was a pleasure to work with Montana State University on this project, lending support to our local community and strengthening our relationship with an incredible engineering institution.”

Generation of custom bone graft materials for reconstructive applications, such as facial trauma, is a significant area of biomaterials research. Current surgical approaches are limited by the amount of a patient’s own bone that can be harvested and transplanted for this purpose. Three-dimensional printing technology is currently at the forefront of addressing these surgical needs.

The university team’s medical-grade printer is capable of printing personalized bone grafts made for each individual’s issue, helping to fix the bones for specific reconstructive needs.

Montana State University is one of only 108 universities in the United States to be designated as having very high research activity by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Education. MSU works with private industry on research, technology transfer, student internships, business support and fostering entrepreneurship.

Xtant Medical Holdings develops, manufactures and markets regenerative medicine products and medical devices for domestic and international markets. Xtant products serve the specialized needs of orthopedic and neurological surgeons, including orthobiologics for the promotion of bone healing, implants and instrumentation for the treatment of spinal disease, tissue grafts for the treatment of orthopedic disorders, and biologics to promote healing following cranial, and foot and ankle surgeries. The company is based in Belgrade, Mont.