The medical device giant sees potential to use 3-D printing technology in areas such as orthopaedics, eye health, and consumer products. 

Qmed Staff

Add Johnson & Johnson to the list of major medical device companies seeing a lot of potential in 3-D printing. The medical device giant this week announced a partnership with HP to collaborate on developing medical products that can be made quickly and customized to the needs of individual people. 

The collaboration in the near-term will focus on personalization of instrumentation and software related to devices. J&J sees potential in areas including orthopaedics, eye health, and consumer products. 

"Combined with advances in data mining and software, 3D printing could enable distributed manufacturing models and patient-specific products, therapies and solutions that deliver better outcomes, better economics, and improved global accessibility. This collaboration with HP Inc. exemplifies our commitment to harnessing new technology to improve outcomes and reduce costs across the health continuum," Sandra Peterson, group worldwide chairman at Johnson & Johnson, said in a news release.

Other medical device companies see a great deal of potential in 3-D printing. Stryker, for example, is spending $400 million to build a 3-D printing plant in Ireland. The company recently introduced a 3-D printed spinal cage designed to promote bone ingrowth and lumbar fixation for patients with degenerative disc disease.

Smith & Nephew recently turned to 3-D printing to promote ingrowth for one of its newest titanium hip implant cups.

Chris Newmarker is senior editor of Qmed and MPMN. Follow him on Twitter at @newmarker.

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