Most of us have heard about 3D
printing - the ability to "print" or manufacture a three dimensional
object from a computer file. What was once an expensive process is becoming
more mainstream as costs drop. "Additive manufacturing" (a term some
believe is more descriptive of the technology) has moved beyond developing
industrial prototypes to being pursued by the biotech and medical communities
at warp speed. Doctors are using the technology and data from individual
patients to print 3D organ models before an operation to better understand
the personal physical nuances of the procedure, and some universities are
partnering with hospitals to create medical devices that would be resorbed in
the body. It's easy to see how the public could join Star Trek fans and soon
envision walking up to an ATM-like device (a Replicator) and ordering whatever
they want - if the business and legal minds can agree how.
What are the legal and IP
ramifications about this new process? To be determined. The World Intellectual
Property Organization (WIPO) held a meeting on April 25 to better understand
the technology. The first 3D printing patent was granted in 1977, so the
technology is in the public domain. With such a potentially pervasive
technology, hopefully a consensus roadmap for addressing the intellectual
property issues (including regulatory approvals from
the FDA and other agencies) will be forthcoming. Several IP firms in the U.S.
and EU already have these issues on their radar.
Any new technology can challenge the IP community; let's hope we
don't retard the advancement of 3D printing - and disappoint Gene Roddenberry.
The author is with The CECON Group, Inc, which provides science
and engineering experts in a multitude of disciplines, such as biotechnology, pharmaceutical, materials
engineering, chemistry, and medical devices.
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