{"id":3574,"date":"2020-04-22T13:04:30","date_gmt":"2020-04-22T12:04:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mark3d.com\/en\/?page_id=3574"},"modified":"2020-11-13T12:08:32","modified_gmt":"2020-11-13T12:08:32","slug":"shukla-medical-surgical-instruments-download","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mark3d.com\/en\/shukla-medical-surgical-instruments-download\/","title":{"rendered":"Shukla Medical Surgical Instruments \u2013 download"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Fusing Metal and Carbon Fiber Printing to Create Prototype Tools for Surgical Use<\/h1><\/h1><\/div>

Shukla Medical, a wholly owned subsidiary of aerospace manufacturer S.S. White Technologies, designs and manufactures universal orthopedic implant removal tools such as the Xtract-All\u00ae Spine Universal Spinal Implant Removal System.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

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<\/i>Download Case Study<\/span><\/a><\/div>
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Challenge<\/strong><\/span><\/h2><\/div>
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The products of Shukla Medical are used by surgeons worldwide to efficiently take out old implants before replacing them with new ones \u2014 all while preserving the patient\u2019s bone. Most orthopedic implant removal tools are complicated and require a significant amount of time to operate, whereas Shukla Medical\u2019s universal instruments are known for their simple, intuitive design.<\/span>
\nShukla products are engineered for orthopedic surgeons, with time-saving features like quick-connections and multiple extraction options. \u201cIt\u2019s generally known that every minute in the operating room is very expensive,\u201d said Zack Sweitzer, Product Development Manager at Shukla Medical. \u201cSo any time you can save is extremely helpful.\u201d Operating room costs can range from $35 to over $100, though it varies based on the hospital and surgical procedure. Shukla\u2019s tools need to be quickly prototyped and tested by orthopedic implant surgeons to check for form and fit before the final product is fabricated. The team initially prototyped the parts using their CNC machine or sent the designs out to a third party, but found that long lead times were presenting major slowdowns in iterating on prototypes and preventing them from quickly getting their product to market.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

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Solution<\/span><\/strong><\/h2><\/div>
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Shukla Medical purchased a Markforged 3D printer capable of printing in continuous carbon fiber in 2017, and started using it to prototype their tools instead of using their CNC machine. It was a fantastic addition to the team\u2019s facility. \u201cWe put a lot of load on our instruments, and carbon fiber gives them a little more strength so it doesn\u2019t feel like it\u2019s a toy,\u201d says Adam Gosik-Wolfe, Mechanical Engineer at Shukla Medical. But Adam and the team wanted something more \u2014 they wanted metal prototypes to make it even easier for surgeons to imagine using the tool. Subramanya Naglapura, VP of Operations at Shukla Medical, also saw the potential and advocated for the Metal X\u2019s purchase. After a great experience with their Markforged carbon fiber 3D printer, the team made the decision to add a Metal X system \u2014 with full managerial support. <\/span><\/p>\n

Using 17-4 PH Stainless Steel, Shukla Medical was able to prototype in the same material as many of the final products. They now utilize their composite 3D printer for initial prototypes, and then the Metal X system for the final prototype that goes into the hands of surgeons for evaluation. \u201cThe surgeon can envision using it in the actual incision, and can tell us if it feels the right way in their hands,\u201d says Sweitzer. \u201cBeing able to prototype more efficiently and get finished products to market more quickly will keep us on the forefront of the industry.\u201d The continuous carbon fiber 3D printer is also used to make soft jaws for any of the Metal X parts that require post processing, making it and the Metal X the ideal 3D printing solution for the team.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

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At a glance<\/span><\/strong><\/h2><\/div>
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