The stent manufacturing industry, as it stands, uses extremely inefficient and unaffordable methods, such as laser-cutting, to fabricate stents. These methods require both require extensive infrastructure, meaning manufacture must occur off-site, and follow a one-size-fits-all model. The ARTHETA-0 is a 3D printer with a novel motion system that specializes in printing vascular-stents, addressing all major industry shortcomings.
It uses a novel, simplistic motion system that utilizes polar coordinates and a horizontally-static print bed to print stents made of Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU). This allows the ARTHETA-0 to be incredibly affordable at under $500 (versus industry standards which exceed $100,000), while still printing stents with incredible accuracy and precision (due to its innovative motion system that can print cylindrical structures with almost no ovality). The simplistic fused deposition modeling (FDM) system makes the ARTHETA-0 extremely accessible.
It can be implemented on-site, in hospitals and can print stents that are customized to patient-specific dimensions, unlike anything seen before. Stents can be printed within two hours of parameter input, eliminating shipping times.
Additionally, the actual stents are of high quality and are comprised of complex designs due to the dual extrusion system in the ARTHETA-0, which uses Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) as a support material to print the stent with TPU. Once placed in water, only the PVA dissolves. The stents are also biodegradable due to the usage of TPU, reducing the risk of post-stenting complications such as restenosis.
Mounted in Theta-Axis
Horizontal linear rods
PLA and PETG 3d Printed Housing (thermally optimized)
Dual E3DV6 hotends
Bowden Configuration
Increased print speed and quality
Body comprises of 6 interlocking 3d printer plates
Heated Print bed attached to carriage on adjustable, spring-loaded mount
Driven by 2 lead screws (each powered by Nema17 stepper)
Horizontally static print bed for increased part quality and reduced mechanical slop
Laser-cut Acrylic Frame on prototype model
Aluminum sheet metal and polycarbonate panels in future versions
Supported by 8 v-groove bearings
6 allow tensioning for carriage security
Geared 476:20 from Nema17 output
Houses extruder gearboxes for extrusion system and R-axis
Prints with two materials simultaneously separate hotends - allows different heat settings
2 polymers: TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) ○ PVA (Polyvinyl Alcohol)
Allows for more complex stent mesh geometries
Complex designs and drug-eluting stents
Due to a lack of existing slicing software which support polar motion systems, g-code (machine code) generation software had to be developed.
Optimized for clinical use, software takes input of applied stent parameters and generates machine code to ARTHETA-0 unit. Developed in Java and C++.
2021 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair 2nd Place Grand Award (Biomedical Engineering)
2021 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair Sigma Xi 2nd Place Award (Physical Science)
2021 Biomedical Engineering Society High School Poster Exposition 1st Place Award
Conrad Spirit of Innovation Challenge Innovator (Health & Nutrition)
North Carolina Student Academy of Sciences State Medalist (Advanced Engineering)
North Carolina Science and Engineering Fair Region 3B Overall Grand Award Winner
Selected as BMES Seminar Series Guest Presenter