When neurosurgeon Ralph Mobbs began the world-first surgical removal of two cancerous vertebrae, there was a high risk that the patient could die. But thanks to advanced medical device manufacturer, Anatomics, these cancerous vertebrae were successfully replaced with a perfectly designed 3D-printed body part.

The 15-hour surgery, which occurred in late 2015, reattached the patient’s skull to their spinal column with a patient specific titanium implant, allowing the adhesion of the soft tissue.

This surgery was a medical breakthrough made possible by the expertise of neurosurgeon Mobbs, and the innovative, precise technology of Australian advanced manufacturer, Anatomics.

A pioneer of CT scan-derived surgical implant technology, Anatomics is not your usual manufacturer.

Operating out of a dedicated manufacturing laboratory in the heart of St. Kilda in Melbourne, this global medical device company uses advanced technologies to produce life-changing and life-saving surgical products that sell to the world.

Anatomics manufactures surgical implants from a variety of materials, including titanium, acrylic, and now a porous polyethylene, a material developed as part of an Anatomics-CSIRO collaboration. The material is a strong, lightweight thermoplastic that is capable of integrating with the patient’s own tissue.

Anatomics’ highly skilled specialists produce BioModels and implant prototypes working closely with surgeons and healthcare professionals,, using cutting edge 3D-printing technologies.

Their meticulousness in the pre-operative stages minimises the need to alter the implants in theatre. Each implant will seamlessly fit the anatomy of the patient.

Anatomics manufactures a variety of patient specific products for medical use, including cranial, facial, chest, and orthopaedic implants and other skeletal and soft tissue parts.

In addition to implant manufacturing, Anatomics has developed a range of innovative software products to aid surgeons and healthcare professionals in planning surgery.

Surgeons, radiographers, nurses, practice managers and general medical staff can use technological software innovations, AnatomicsRx and AnatomicsC3D, to send CT scan data electronically and share computer screens to plan online from anywhere in the world.

Anatomics also creates individually designed medical devices from 3D CT scan data called Patient Specific Surgical Tools (PSSTs). These devises include surgical BioModels, bone resection templates, bone harvest templates and implant positioning templates, and are critical in pre-operation decision-making and planning.

The suite of products Anatomics manufacture are enabling a whole new era of surgical possibilities, revolutionising medicine, science and technology.

Founded in 1996 by neurosurgeon Paul D’Urso and healthcare industry expert Robert Thomson, Anatomics was born out of groundbreaking research and development in the early days of 3D printing that now has real-world impacts.

Employing a “team of champion people”, as Andrew Batty, CEO of Anatomics describes the staff, is the key to enabling Anatomics to distribute their implants globally, with Australian-made medical implants available across Europe and Asia.

The advanced manufacturer maintains global competitiveness through ardent research, development and commercial partnerships, pioneered by Batty.

Andrew Batty says: “Developing working partnerships with research organisations, universities, hospitals and larger medical device companies is critical to ensuring innovative products and technology get to market. It’s all about talented people investing time, money and effort into ideas to create opportunities.”

Collaborating directly with surgeons and healthcare professionals to manufacture solutions specific to patients needs is what makes Anatomics so dynamic, innovative and competitive.

Anatomics has successfully carved out a niche for itself in business and medical innovations, having combined science, technology and medicine to save lives and increase Australia’s global competitiveness.