Rapid and Low-cost Prototyping of Medical Devices Using 3D Printed Molds for Liquid Injection Molding |
| |
Authors: | Philip Chung J. Alex Heller Mozziyar Etemadi Paige E. Ottoson Jonathan A. Liu Larry Rand Shuvo Roy |
| |
Affiliation: | 1.Department of Bioengineering & Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco;2.Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco;3.Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California |
| |
Abstract: | Biologically inert elastomers such as silicone are favorable materials for medical device fabrication, but forming and curing these elastomers using traditional liquid injection molding processes can be an expensive process due to tooling and equipment costs. As a result, it has traditionally been impractical to use liquid injection molding for low-cost, rapid prototyping applications. We have devised a method for rapid and low-cost production of liquid elastomer injection molded devices that utilizes fused deposition modeling 3D printers for mold design and a modified desiccator as an injection system. Low costs and rapid turnaround time in this technique lower the barrier to iteratively designing and prototyping complex elastomer devices. Furthermore, CAD models developed in this process can be later adapted for metal mold tooling design, enabling an easy transition to a traditional injection molding process. We have used this technique to manufacture intravaginal probes involving complex geometries, as well as overmolding over metal parts, using tools commonly available within an academic research laboratory. However, this technique can be easily adapted to create liquid injection molded devices for many other applications. |
| |
Keywords: | Bioengineering Issue 88 liquid injection molding reaction injection molding molds 3D printing fused deposition modeling rapid prototyping medical devices low cost low volume rapid turnaround time. |
|
|