Tag Archives: Mcor Technologies

Belgium Doctors Use Mcor 3D Printing to Save Precious Time in Surgery

Paper-Based 3D Printing Used by Medical Team to Create Detailed Bone Structure Models

There are two issues with long surgeries: cost and risk to the patient. Surgery cost approximately $100 per minute, which means there is a business opportunity for shortening surgeries without reducing efficacy. Also, the longer a surgery lasts, the greater the health risks to the patient, especially in sensitive operations on the brain or other major organs.

In Belgium, 3D printing is offering doctors a chance to shave hours off in the operating room by creating an exact replica of a patient’s bone structure as a surgical guide.

“With each procedure, we easily win an hour in the operating room, and that’s a major benefit for the patient.” – Professor Raphael Olszewski, a surgeon and head of the university’s oral and maxillofacial surgery research lab at the Cliniques universitaires saint Luc, Université catholique de Louvain (UCL) in Belgium.

Mcor 3D Printing Belgium Surgery

These doctors are using paper 3D printing from Mcor Technologies, an approach that can 3D print in millions of colors and nearly any additive shape.

Staples Mcor 3D Printing multicolor a

Related: Mcor 3D Printing on Paper Creates Photo-Realistic Objects

In a piece authored by Mcor’s Director of Marketing Julie Reece, this innovative medical technique is explained in more detail.

The surgeons employ paper 3D printing technology from Mcor Technologies to recoup hours from traditional surgical procedures. Working from the digitally scanned contours of patients’ bones, doctors push a button to create full-size 3D physical models they can use as surgical guides.

Since the model is a facsimile of the patient’s actual physiology, surgeons can use it to precisely shape metal inserts that fit along a patient’s residual bone. The insert might be a plate that supports a damaged mandible or a titanium mesh for reconstructing a damaged eye socket. Without 3D physical models to work from, surgeons would be forced to rely on time-consuming trial and error to shape the metal implants and risk potential tissue damage.

Eco-Friendly Solution

The Belgium-based medical team is not new to 3D printing, but did make a switch in 3D printers. They had previously employed a ZPrinter from ZCorp (acquired by 3D Systems) that uses resin and powder, and converted to the Mcor 3D printer that uses paper with water-based adhesive. One benefit to the doctors is that Mcor provides an eco-friendly and non-toxic solution. Moreover, the cost to 3D print a patient model is about half of what it costs on the ZPrinter.

 

Recent News about Mcor: Staples Launches 3D Printing Challenge for Mcor 3D Printers with €1000 Prize

 

Staples Launches 3D Printing Challenge for Mcor 3D Printers with €1000 Prize

Last year, Staples entered the 3D printing market through a partnership with Ireland-based Mcor Technologies. Staples created a new service called Staples Easy 3D which would first launch in Europe, bringing 3D printing to retail.

Related: Watch a video about Staples Easy 3D

What’s different about Mcor‘s process is that it’s machines print on a stock of paper rather than extrude plastic. Each layer, therefore, is the resolution of a single piece of paper and can be any color.

Staples Mcor 3D Printer Map

To promote its new service, Staples has teamed up with 3D model marketplace CGTrader to host a competition looking for the best designs that can be 3D printed by Staples.

Link: Staples 3D printing challenge website.

“The models should be specially made for MCor Iris True Color 3D printer,” said CGTrader. “This amazing printer uses standard copy paper to print 3D models – it prints 3D object layer by layer on paper sheets. Colored ink is being deposited on both sides of the paper sheet in the printing process – forget about the single color, you can use more than 1 million of them in your design.”

Related: Mcor 3D Printing on Paper Creates Photo-Realistic Objects

Staples Mcor 3D Printing multicolor a

The competition is running now through October 21, 2013. The winner will get 1000 EUR, 12 months free Designer subscription on Staples MyEasy3D, valued at 900 EUR, and a CGTrader t-shirt.

“The best models will be made available for buyers in Staples MyEasy3D store,” added CGTrader. Maybe something like this photo-realistic orange.

Staples Mcor 3D Printer Orange

Competition entrants can check a model’s printability via Staples My Easy 3D by creating a free store. Uploading your models for printability review is required to participate.

You can find more information how to meet the requirements on CGTrader, or go to the competition website.

Video: A Look Inside Staples Easy Button Solution For 3D Printing

Staples 3D Printing Easy Button

Earlier this month, Irish 3D printing company Mcor Technologies secured a massive deal with retail giant Staples to develop a new service called Staples Easy 3D in Europe.

The video below shows how this service will enable consumers to order a 3D print as easily as photo prints are ordered today.

Paper-Based 3D Printing, Now in Color and Photo Realistic

Mcor IRIS 3D Printing

3D printers today are capable of creating objects in a variety of materials, from sandstone to plastic to gold. Ireland-based Mcor Technologies has a 3D printer that prints on, wait for it, normal old copy paper.

Their innovation is that the printer glues each sheet of paper together, and only prints the visible part of the model per page.

Mcor has announced a new printer called IRIS that can create photo-realistic objects in full color.

Introducing the Mcor IRIS, the worlds first high resolution full 3D color 3D Printer. The Mcor IRIS joins Mcor’s family of paper 3D printers and the vision of producing high quality, low cost and eco-friendly 3D prints.

Now Mcor is taking their technology to the next level with a full color 3D printer using regular letter paper and specially developed Mcor inks.

The Mcor IRIS produces sharp vibrant prints; printing on to a pure white media produces better color authenticity and reproduction when compared with other color 3D technologies. The Iris prints photo-realistic 3D parts with the resolution you would expect from a high quality 2D color printer

The IRIS will open up a world of opportunity to engineering, education, AEC, GIS and entertainment. “Now full color 3D printing will be accessible to everyone with full 3D color needs”, said Dr MacCormack.

Watch the video below to see the IRIS in action.