在中国，AK Medical是关节修复设备的领先制造商，而且有趣的是，它还是第一家获得美国国家医疗产品管理局（NMPA）批准在中国实施金属3D打印植入物的公司。如今，借助八套GE Additive Arcam EBM系统，医疗设备公司已扩大了整形外科植入物的生产。

In China, AK Medical is a leading manufacturer of joint prosthetic devices and, interestingly, it was also the first company to receive approval for the implementation of metal 3D printed implants in China by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). Today, medical device company has scaled up its production of orthopedic implants thanks to a fleet of eight GE Additive Arcam EBM systems.

对矫形植入物（包括膝盖髋和脊柱器械）的需求正在增长，特别是随着全球人口的增长和人们的预期寿命的增长。 AK Medical是希望借助复杂的增材制造技术来满足这一不断增长的需求的公司之一。 AM对公司而言并不陌生，据报道它已经使用EBM 3D打印超过十年了，但是AM机队的最近扩展现在使其能够显着扩大生产规模。

The need for orthopedic implants, including knee hip and spinal devices, is growing, especially as the global population increases and people’s life expectancies increase. AK Medical is one of the companies hoping to meet this growing demand with the help of sophisticated additive manufacturing technologies. AM is not new to the company, it has reportedly been using EBM 3D printing for over a decade, but a recent expansion of its AM fleet is now enabling it to scale up production significantly.

迄今为止，该公司已开发出五种经NMPA认证的金属3D打印骨科植入物，这些植入物正在中国各地的骨科医生中使用。与在医疗领域与AM合作的其他公司一样，AK Medical正在利用该技术通过定制和骨骼形态改善植入物设计。

To date, the company has developed five metal 3D printed orthopedic implants that are certified by the NMPA and these are being used by orthopedic surgeons across China. Like other companies working with AM in the medical sphere, AK Medical is leveraging the technology to improve implant design through customization and bone morphology.

AK Medical北京分公司的Arcam EBM Q10plus机器

Arcam EBM Q10plus machines at AK Medical’s Beijing facility

AK Medical董事长，首席执行官兼执行董事李志江先生说：“我们的目标是为患者和医学专家提供服务。” “凭借我们的先进产品，我们致力于使骨科疾病的治疗更加有效和轻松，同时为我们的患者带来更好的结果和更快的康复时间。”

“Our aim is to serve both patients and medical experts,” said Mr. Li Zhijiang, chairman, chief executive officer and executive director at AK Medical. “With our advanced products, we strive to make the treatment of orthopedic conditions more efficient and easier, while bringing about better outcomes and quicker recovery times to our patients.”

AM也是减少植入物交货时间和改善患者预后的关键。最后一个好处很大程度上是由于可以进行3D打印的小梁结构，从而使植入物与患者的天然骨之间更好地融合在一起。

AM has also been key in reducing lead times for implants and improve patient outcomes. This last benefit is largely due to the trabecular structure that can be 3D printed and which leads to better integration between the implant and the patient’s natural bone.

EBM已成为AK Medical的首选技术，因为它具有生产高精度，高密度零件的能力。该公司已经使用了一系列EBM系统，从第一代Arcam模型到最新的Arcam EBM Q10plus系统。由于该技术在真空环境中运行，因此具有很高的熔化效率，非常适合堆叠。该过程还需要较少的热处理后印刷，从而降低了成本。例如，AK Medical表示，与其他AM工艺相比，使用EBM生产髋臼杯时可以节省约38％的成本。

EBM has been the technology of choice for AK Medical because of its ability to produce high-precision, fully dense parts. The company has worked with a range of EBM systems, from the first generation Arcam model to the latest Arcam EBM Q10plus system. Because the technology operates in a vacuum environment, it offers a high melting efficiency, and is well suited for stacking. The process also requires less heat treatment post-printing, which leads to lower costs. For instance, AK Medical says that it is possible to save about 38% in costs when using EBM to product an acetabular cup compared to other AM processes.

AK Medical北京工厂的Arcam EBM设备

Arcam EBM equipment at AK Medical’s Beijing Facility

李先生说：“我们使用EBM技术已有十多年了，因此，当我们最近需要投资购买新机器时，我们自然选择了Q10plus。” “ Q10plus系统提供了用户友好的界面，更高的加工精度和更高质量的产品。它有助于我们提高标准生产和小规模定制生产的成本效率。”

“We have used EBM technology for more than a decade, so when we recently needed to invest in new machines, we naturally opted for the Q10plus,” said Mr. Li. “The Q10plus system provides a user-friendly interface, a higher precision of processing, and better-quality products. It helps us improve the cost efficiency of both standard production and small-scale customized production.”

AK Medical还参与了医学应用AM的开发，与临床和研发合作伙伴一起克服了技术的某些挑战，包括标准化。在这方面，该公司帮助开发了3D打印医疗产品的多个本地行业标准。随着公司的不断发展，它将更多的精力放在3D打印上，并计划将其生产范围从骨关节扩展到其他骨科领域。

AK Medical has also been involved in advancing AM for medical applications, working with clinical and R&D partners to overcome certain challenges with the technology, including standardization. On this front, the company has helped to develop several local industry standards for 3D printed medical products. As the company continues to grow, it is placing more of a focus on 3D printing, and also plans to expand its production beyond bone joints into other orthopedic areas.

李先生总结说：“我们对充满信心的未来充满期待。” “就成本而言，添加剂技术本身具有极大的优势，个性化定制正日益成为行业趋势。当您开始将其与CT，核磁共振MRI，软件，互联网，5G和许多其他技术结合起来考虑时，添加剂很可能会释放出更大的潜力来推动整个医疗行业。”

“We look to the future full of confidence,” concluded Mr. Li. “Additive technology itself is tremendously advantageous in terms of cost, and personalized customization is increasingly becoming an industry trend. And when you begin think of it in combination with CT, nuclear MRI, software, the Internet, 5G and many other technologies, then additive is likely to unleash greater potential to boost the entire medical industry.”

文章来源：3dprintingmedia