A new manufacturing research collaboration utilising 3D print technologies could soon provide people living with stoma bags with access to personalised ostomy seals that will improve their quality of life.
Medical technology company Singular Health, in collaboration with Australia’s national science agency CSIRO, has secured $100,000 in funding from the Innovative Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (IMCRC) to develop and commercialise the device, which acts as a seal between a patient’s abdomen and stoma bag.
The 9-month project, enabled by $538,984 total cash and in-kind contributions from all three organisations, will use CSIRO-developed software to build upon Singular Health’s existing 3Dicom “Scan to SurgeryTM” software, creating a ‘surface scan to model’ extension that will provide the 3D visualisation capability needed to process patient scans and customise the device.
The ostomy seal can then be designed and manufactured to suit each patient’s unique morphology, greatly reducing the risk of leakage, a common issue that compromises the effectiveness of generic devices.
Commenting on the project, Thomas Hanly, Singular Health’s Chief Executive Officer, said that the IMCRC activate funding would enable Singular Health to streamline design and manufacturing processes needed to effectively commercialise the device and thus pave the way for future advancements. “Currently, manufacturing patient specific medical devices is time consuming and costly.
Singular Health’s Scan to SurgeryTM software, incorporating CSIRO developed software for fast customisation, will transform this workflow, substantially reducing processing time and enabling clinicians to move from scanning to production of the 3D-printed seal in under 60 minutes,” he said. “This device is just one example of how shorter-term, agile projects continue to play a pivotal role in supporting advancements that deliver significant health and economic benefits for Australians.”
Vu Nguyen, CSIRO Project Lead, said that the project represented a great opportunity for CSIRO to provide the expertise and equipment needed to accelerate the project and create mutually beneficial opportunities. “By supporting Singular Health to develop the fast, personalised stoma seal design and 3D visualisation capability software, CSIRO continues to demonstrate how digital health innovations can transform patient outcomes.”
David Chuter, IMCRC’s CEO and Managing Director, said that IMCRC was pleased to be co-funding the scaling and commercialisation of the revolutionary medical device, made possible through advances in additive manufacturing processes and biopolymer technologies. “The customised ostomy seal is a perfect example of Australian innovation solving a niche but very real problem, and the upcoming project is a testament to the importance of industry and research organisations uniting to drive real world outcomes," he said.
About IMCRC
IMCRC is an independent and for-impact cooperative research centre with a successful, proven and scalable model for catalysing research and business partnerships that drives transformative commercial outcomes for participating Australian manufacturers. To date, IMCRC has successfully co-invested in more than 60 R&D projects, catalysing more than $200 million in transformative manufacturing research.
The IMCRC activate program was introduced in 2020 to support shorter-term, industry-led research projects that help Australian manufacturers take action and gain a competitive edge in the post-COVID-19 world.
About Singular Health
Singular Health's corporate vision is to empower patients and practitioners through technology that enables personalised healthcare. With a mission to develop technologies that provide patients and practitioners alike with access to personalised, enhanced medical data to develop better health literacy and deliver better health outcomes through personalised medical treatment.
Personalised medicine tailors treatment to a particular individual and takes into account that individuals own lifestyle choices, genetics and medical history. Singular Health envisions a future of universal access to personalised, fully informed medicine.
For more information, please contact:
Jana Kuthe, Communications, Marketing and Events Manager, IMCRC
+61 416 735 666
jana.kuthe@imcrc.org
Brad Kluss, Communications Advisor, CSIRO
+61 7 3833 5771
Brad.kluss@CSIRO.au
This release was originally published on the IMCRC website: Personalised 3D-printed ostomy seal set to improve patient outcomes - IMCRC [pdf · 286kb]
