title: Rapid and low-cost prototyping of medical devices using 3D printed molds for liquid injection molding.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering & Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco; philip.f.chung@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering & Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco.
authors.forename: J Alex
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Heller
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering & Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco.
authors.forename: Mozziyar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Etemadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco.
authors.forename: Paige E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Ottoson
authors.affiliation: Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California.
authors.forename: Jonathan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco.
authors.forename: Larry
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rand
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioengineering & Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco.
authors.forename: Shuvo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roy
mesh_terms: D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D004864:Equipment and Supplies / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066330:Printing, Three-Dimensional / Q000191:economics; D012826:Silicone Elastomers / Q000737:chemistry; D014621:Vagina
chemical_list: D012826:Silicone Elastomers