14 DAY TRIAL // 3D printing technology has started to be used quite often, and effectively, by makers of food products, medicinal methods and even biochemical compounds and tissues. All this boils down to a whole new field of science.
And like any field of science likely to affect the quality of living, and humankind's way of life in general, some rules need to be followed.
Alas, it's kind of hard to follow the rules when there's no clear list of what the rules are. After a point, vague guidelines just don't cut it anymore.
So the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA for short, is preparing a public workshop meant to set those ground rules.
The workshop will take place on October 8, 2014, from 8 AM to 5 PM, and will seek to understand the technology, and what problems lie ahead of it.
That's just one of three goals though. The purpose of the workshop is three-fold, tri-pronged in other words.
The second “prong” is creating awareness. The participants will have to find ways to ensure the safety of 3D printed medical devices.
This is one of the classes of 3D printed products that could have the greatest short-term impact, and a similarly essential effect in the long term.
The third purpose of the workshop will be to establish collaborations between those already involved in the industry and the ones that need the educational materials, standards, and guidance they come up with. Perfecting the performance and reliability of 3D printed devices is essential after all.
Significant strides have been made in this direction already, with the use of a different material for the support structures, and the better resolution / print size.
All in all, the workshop will revolve around the discussion called “Additive Manufacturing of Medical Devices: An Interactive Discussion on the Technical Considerations of 3-D Printing.” It will take place at the FDA’s White Oak Campus, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 31 Conference Center, the Great Room (Rm. 1503), Silver Spring, MD.
You don't even need to reach the campus. If you want to comment, you can do it electronically, through the regulations.gov website.
Don't expect a sheet of directions to be sent out immediately though. These things take time, so the first official rule set might not be ready until 2016.
Still, at least this all means that 3D printing technology has become a field of study, research and development unto itself.