3D Systems targets PEEK implants with acquisition of Kumovis
Leveraging unique extrusion technology specifically developed for healthcare applications with advanced polymers
3D Systems (NYSE: DDD) entered into an agreement to acquire Kumovis, a Munich, Germany-based additive manufacturing solutions provider for personalized healthcare applications. Kumovis’ solutions are built upon their unique extrusion technology specifically developed for precision printing of medical-grade, high-performance polymers such as PEEK (polyether ether ketone).
These materials are often preferred for human implants and surgical instrumentation applications, and, when combined with the Kumovis 3D printing technology, enable surgeons to deliver better, faster, and more economical patient outcomes. With this acquisition, 3D Systems will add a unique extrusion technology to its extensive polymer printing healthcare portfolio, allowing the company to expand its addressable market for personalized healthcare applications.
“As a pioneer in personalized healthcare solutions, 3D Systems is continuously searching for opportunities to expand our application offerings that will advance healthcare delivery,” said Dr. Jeffrey Graves, president and CEO, 3D Systems. “The addition of the Kumovis team – their expertise and technology – will be highly synergistic to our medical business model. Our proven ability to deliver regulatory-approved, implantable 3D printed medical devices, personalized to improve patient outcomes, to surgeons around the world through our exceptional channel partners, will help ensure that the Kumovis PEEK-based offerings can be brought to market quickly and effectively. Moreover, 3D Systems’ expanding point of care initiatives will be greatly enhanced through the inclusion of Kumovis’ unique ‘integrated clean room’ printing technology, allowing hospitals and other end-users to tailor products on-demand, to meet specific patient requirements in the quickest and most resource-efficient manner.”
Stefan Leonhardt, co-CEO and co-founder of Kumovis added, “In addition, by joining forces with 3D Systems, we will be able to combine their outstanding solutions with our unique PEEK printing technology to offer efficient, validated end-to-end workflows to produce personalized implants and improve patient outcomes. We look forward to increasing the focus on our core competencies to help accelerate the development of the next generation of implants and transform medical device manufacturing.”
PEEK is a very desirable material for the production of medical devices because it is lightweight, resistant to thermal and ionizing radiation, and possesses mechanical properties similar to those of human bone. The addition of Kumovis’ additive manufacturing solutions to the company’s personalized healthcare solutions portfolio will allow 3D Systems to expand its offering for medical devices and point of care markets for the following indications:
Craniomaxillofacial applications have been a core focus for 3D Systems for many years. Through this acquisition, the company will expand its VSP® (virtual surgical planning) solutions portfolio to include PEEK implant manufacturing in addition to its anatomical model and surgical guidance products for a complete solution that can be bundled for its customers.
Bone plates for trauma is a new application focus for which Kumovis is developing carbon fiber reinforced PEEK bone plates for trauma and fracture fixation applications. This has the potential to open more opportunities for 3D Systems to penetrate and grow the trauma point of care medical market segment.
Spinal cages for which 3D Systems is a leader in the development, production, and sale of both implanted parts and systems for in-house production.
As a renowned leader in personalized healthcare solutions, 3D Systems has worked with surgeons over the last decade to plan more than 140,000 patient-specific cases, and manufacture more than two million implants and instruments for 100+ CE-marked and FDA-cleared devices from its world-class, FDA registered, ISO 13485-certified facilities in Littleton, Colorado, and Leuven, Belgium. The company intends to integrate the Kumovis technologies into these locations as a symbiotic fit with its legacy quality systems and regulatory requirements to provide parts to current and prospective customers, as well as deploy this unique extrusion technology at medical and dental point of care providers to produce both implants and surgical instruments.
