Biotech startup BellaSeno, which is seeking to develop a more natural and safer alternative to silicone breast implants, has chosen Onshape’s modern cloud CAD system to design the external structures of its 3D-printed implants. BellaSeno researchers are using Polycaprolactone (PCL), a biocompatible and bioresorbable polymer that is already used in FDA-approved and CE-marked products for other medical procedures. Both animal and human clinical trials are scheduled for 2019.
Onshape for Designing Eliminates Repetitive Design Tasks
BellaSeno’s aim is to create implants that support the growth of natural breast tissue and are safely absorbed into the body, unlike silicone implants which are prone to rupture and can require replacement.
“We’re developing more than 150 different sizes and profiles to choose from that fit every possible body type,” says biomedical engineer Sara Lucarotti, Head of Design for BellaSeno. “Using Onshape’s configurations feature, I was able to plug in all the measurements and automatically generate 150 CAD models in less than an hour. It’s a beautiful feature.”
“From a purely engineering perspective, the breast has a relatively simple structure. It’s not complicated like modeling a car or machine. Onshape eliminates repetitive design tasks and frees up time for me to focus on other priorities,” she adds.
Onshape’s modern approach to parametric modeling simplifies traditional CAD configuration tables, which sometimes can contain thousands of rows covering each conceivable permutation. In contrast, Onshape lets engineers build complex families of parts by creating separate small tables for each set of independent configuration options. This dramatically reduces the number of required rows and cells – eliminating monster-sized tables that are difficult to understand, troubleshoot or manage.
“We’re proud that Onshape is helping BellaSeno in its quest to improve women’s health,” says Onshape CEO Jon Hirschtick. “Whether it is for breast reconstruction after a mastectomy or elective plastic surgery, BellaSeno is uniquely positioned to find innovative and safer solutions for millions of patients.”
Lucarotti adds that she also values Onshape’s universal access on any computer, tablet or phone, versus other CAD systems restricting her to one specific computer tied to a CAD license.
“When we were first choosing a CAD system for our startup, I liked the idea that I could work online from anywhere because I travel a lot,” she says. “Once we tried Onshape, it felt natural to just keep on using it. I had a strong biomedical engineering background, but was relatively new to CAD. Onshape has a very quick learning curve.”
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About BellaSeno
Based in Leipzig, Germany, BellaSeno is a preclinical stage medical device company developing innovative porous bioresorbable breast implants. The company’s breakthrough Senella® technology platform uses bioresorbable polymer technology that, after implantation, aims to support growth of natural breast tissue.
BellaSeno implants are a product of more than 10 years of rigorous product development and preclinical studies. The BellaSeno leadership team includes experts from diverse fields ranging from biomedical engineering, additive manufacturing, plastic surgery, medical imaging and polymer development. For more information, visit BellaSeno.com.
Visit the Hudson Street Solutions products page to learn more about Onshape.
