Dynamic Molding Deposition: The additive manufacturing in partially ordered system

Additive manufacturing (AM) is now identified as a powerful bundle of fabrication techniques. Limitations were identified to be mostly related to the availability of reformulated materials compatible with existing AM technologies. What if we were able to dynamically generate sacrificial molds with unlimited architectures and material composition? We have discovered such a process, called Dynamic Molding Deposition (DMD) in partially ordered powder system and demonstrated its capacity to produce highly complex objects with 100 µm resolution, without any building plate or support structures. The DMD compatible materials were shown to be almost infinite, from low to high viscosity, from thermoplastic to elastomers. Our process enables us to build unexpected composite objects made up of injection material and powder grains from the dynamic mold. This feature opens the path to a complete new field of research and applications.

Cellulose nanofiber dispersion as a new submucosal injection material for endoscopic treatment: preliminary experimental study

Background and aims Although various solutions have been tested for submucosal injections during endoscopic treatment, the ideal solution has not been established. We investigated the suitability of a cellulose nanofiber (CNF) dispersion with high viscosity and thixotropy as a potential submucosal injection material for endoscopic treatment. Methods We evaluated the catheter injectability and mucosa-elevating capacity of CNF dispersion compared with sodium hyaluronate (SH) solution, which has been reported to be a promising submucosal injection solution. The catheter injectability of CNF dispersion was examined under conditions equivalent to those used clinically in endoscopic treatment. The mucosa-elevating capacity of CNF dispersion was examined in porcine stomachs. Results There was no significant difference between the catheter injectability of 0.4 % CNF dispersion and 0.4 % SH solutions; however, 0.4 % CNF dispersion maintained significantly higher and longer elevation of the submucosal layer than 0.4 % SH solution. A clear separation of the mucosal layer from the underlying muscle layer was achieved by injecting 0.4 % CNF dispersion. Conclusion This preliminary study suggests that CNF dispersion could be an ideal submucosal injection material for endoscopic treatment because of its unique high thixotropy index.