3D LifePrints is to launch its medical 3D printing services in the USA after appointing a former NASA astronaut to its leadership team.
American physician Dr Scott E. Parazynski, the first person to have both flown in space and summited Mount Everest, will also join the board of directors to assist with the Liverpool-based firm’s long-term strategic move Stateside.
Stanford- and Harvard-educated Dr Parazynski was inducted into the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame in 2016. After retiring from NASA, he founded Fluidity Technologies, a company that aims to manufacture and distribute novel control devices for mobility in 3D space.
Currently part of the ABHI US Accelerator programme in partnership with Dell Medical School, based in Austin, Texas, 3D LifePrints is supported by the Association of British HealthTech Industries.
It will open a new embedded medical 3D printing facility in Texas to work closely with surgeons and clinicians at host hospitals to provide innovative 3D solutions, initially including virtual and 3D-printed patient-specific anatomical models, as well as custom-made surgical simulation and training devices.
The devices are used across a wide range of surgical specialities including paediatric, cardiothoracic, orthopaedic, oncology and cranio-maxillofacial.
The company’s first international expansion, it will be followed by the launch of new point of care hubs in a number of other states, in partnerships with leading US hospitals. This service includes on-site biomedical engineers, a range of advanced 3D printing hardware and a software suite.
3D LifePrints also offers a remote service via its digital platform, EmbedMed.
“3D printing is revolutionising the healthcare industry across the globe, providing surgeons and clinicians with patient specific products and services in order to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs,” said Paul Fotheringham, founder and CTO.
“We are delighted to begin our international expansion in the US, where we are already able to provide a range of our state-of-the-art 3D medical solutions. It is also a huge honour for us to welcome Dr Parazynski to our leadership team; to have attracted a figure of his calibre demonstrates the ambitions of our company.”
Paul Benton, MD International at ABHI, added: “We are thrilled to hear of 3D LifePrints’ success in the US, whose unique business model and technologies are helping to advance care both for patients and clinicians.
“I am delighted that through programmes like the US Accelerator, UK-based companies can find the opportunity to connect with new partners and extend the benefits of their services.”