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Singular and CSIRO enter medical 3D printing collaboration

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Caption: Singular Health has partnered with CSIRO to develop an artificial intelligence-based tool to automatically design replacement cranial implants for 3D printing.
Camera IconCaption: Singular Health has partnered with CSIRO to develop an artificial intelligence-based tool to automatically design replacement cranial implants for 3D printing. Credit: File

Medical technology company Singular Health has partnered with innovative Australian scientific research agency CSIRO, on a project that is looking to develop an artificial intelligence-based tool to automatically design replacement “cranial implants” for 3D printing. The company has also entered into a collaboration with ASX-listed Osteopore to validate results of the project. Osteopore uses specialist tissue science and its proprietary 3D printing technology to manufacture regenerative implants.

Singular’s collaboration with CSIRO falls under the research organisation’s ‘Kick-Start Program’. Under the research initiative, CSIRO provides matched funding for businesses looking to access its expertise to research innovative products and processes.

Singular says it has now been awarded funding from CSIRO to the tune of $50,000 for a research program seeking to utilise artificial intelligence to automatically generate cranial implants for craniotomies.

Singular’s technology uses artificial intelligence to analyse the unique shape of a patient’s cranium from CT scans before creating a cranium implant model that can be 3D printed.

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The artificial intelligence used in the Kick-Start research is set to be incorporated into the company’s ‘Surgical Planning’ software for editing and review prior to the 3D printing of the implants.

Singular has also entered a Memorandum of Understanding, or “MoU” with Osteopore, where results from the research project will be validated using a dataset provided by Osteopore.

Under the MoU, a comparative study to test the accuracy and potential time savings from automated generation of cranial implant designs will also be undertaken. The study will compare existing cranial implant design processes with new designs developed in the research project.

Singular’s ‘3Dicom Surgical’ software platform will be used to develop, trial and commercialise the fully automated cranial implant tool. Singular will also provide its software development expertise to the collaboration with Osteopore.

This project marks an exciting step for Singular Health as it highlights our expertise in Artificial Intelligence in the design of patient specific implants. Too often, advances in medical technology are made without the input of peers to focus on commercial priorities. Working with Osteopore ensures our work and results will be objectively compared with existing techniques and paves the way for future collaborations and commercialisation opportunities.

Singular Health Managing Director, Thomas Hanly

Osteopore’s Chief Executive Officer, Khoon Seng Goh added:

“As a leader in regenerative medicine, Osteopore collaborates with a range of technologies that improve the efficacy of our regenerative implants. This win-win formula brings future technologies to commercialisation faster so that surgeons have new solutions for their treatment strategy, and patients can be treated early to make the most of their body’s healing capacity.”

Singular believes the collaboration with Osteopore could provide future commercialisation opportunities for the duo too.

Osteopore uses a state of the art “bioresorbable” 3D printed lattice that utilises 3D printing to produce medical implants with complex shapes, such as the shape of a cranium. The generated medical implants also allow for bone reconstruction and restoration.

According to Singular, Osteopore is looking to tap into a global market consisting of about 1.1 million cranial procedures each year.

The collaborations with CSIRO and Osteopore appear to bode well for Singular as it looks to advance its innovative technology and cement its place in the lucrative medical imaging market.

Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: matt.birney@wanews.com.au

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