LEUVEN, Belgium, Oct. 12, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Materialise NV (Nasdaq:MTLS), a leading provider of 3D software and sophisticated 3D printing solutions, and pioneer in medical image based knee guide technology, today announced that Global will use its Knee Guide System.
The Materialise Knee Guide System, a solution consisting of easy-to-use 3D surgical planning software and patient-specific surgical guides for knee surgery, allows surgeons to efficiently and accurately plan knee surgeries based on the patient’s unique anatomy and structural damage. Based on that pre-operative plan, patient-specific guides are designed and 3D printed for use during surgery. This widely-used system will now include Global.
Jeroen Dille, Director of Materialise’s Clinical Unit, states: “The collaboration with Global allows Materialise to help even more surgeons in Australia to discover the benefits that 3D printing can offer in the planning and the execution of total knee arthroplasty. Improving people’s lives through meaningful applications of 3D printing has been our mission since Materialise started its activities 25 years ago.” 
Andrew Fox-Smith, Global Chief Executive Officer of Global, declares: “The team at Global is committed to offering Australia’s finest surgeons with new and innovative solutions that can meet their needs, for the benefit of their patients. That’s why we are pleased to be partnering with Materialise, for the use of their 3D medical image-based and printing technology for local surgeons utilizing Global’s APEX™ knee implant. The ability for our surgeons to pre-operatively plan and use patient-specific guides based on their MRI, will deliver optimal clinical outcomes and enhance the patient’s overall satisfaction.”
Materialise has 25 years of experience in 3D planning and printing for medical applications, which includes the development of dedicated 3D visualization and planning software, engineering and design services and the production of 3D printed patient-specific guides and implants.
About Materialise
With its headquarters in Leuven, Belgium, and branches worldwide, Materialise is a provider of Additive Manufacturing (AM) software solutions and sophisticated 3D printing services in a wide variety of industries, including healthcare, automotive, aerospace, art and design and consumer products. Materialise has been playing an active role in the field of AM since 1990, through its involvement in AM for industrial and medical applications, by providing biomedical and clinical solutions such as medical image processing and surgical simulations and by developing unique solutions for its customers’ prototyping, production, and medical needs. For additional information, please visit: www.materialise.com.
About Global Orthopaedic Technology
Formed in 1999, Global Orthopaedic Technology has grown to become the country’s largest Australian-owned orthopaedic implant designer and manufacturer, with two research, design and manufacturing facilities in Bella Vista and Seven Hills, in Sydney.
Global remains committed through its mission and core values to continue to recognise local experts in their field to further patient outcomes by being Australia’s most respected, innovative and responsive orthopaedic company.
For more information about Global, please visit www.globalortho.com.au