RICOH 3D for Healthcare and Kallisio enter into partnership

Ricoh USA and Kallisio today announced a strategic partnership for the manufacture and distribution of Stentra. Stentra is a 510(k)-cleared, patient-specific oral stent designed to improve radiation therapy for patients with head and neck cancer.

Stentra is cleared by the U.S. FDA through the 510(k) process and is manufactured in RICOH 3D for Healthcare’s 3D printing facilities. It enables the targeted relocation and fixation of sensitive tissue during radiation treatment, which reduces the risk of side effects and increases the effectiveness of the therapy.

The use of 3D printing plays a crucial role here, as it enables the rapid and precise production of patient-specific medical devices. RICOH uses its extensive infrastructure of FDA-certified printing facilities to efficiently deliver Stentra to radiotherapy centers across the US. This shortens production times and ensures that the device is available in a timely manner.

“Our collaboration with Kallisio highlights our shared commitment to advancing cancer care by addressing critical needs in toxicity management,” said Gary Turner, Managing Director, RICOH 3D for Healthcare. “Stentra not only protects the tongue and other healthy tissues from exposure to radiation but also enhances the precision of radiation therapy, thereby reducing side effects and improving patient quality of life.”

Stentra will be launched in October 2024 and oncologists can order the product through RICOH’s clinical application specialists. The partnership with Kallisio and the use of 3D printing will make it possible to achieve greater precision in radiation treatment and thus optimize treatment outcomes for patients.

Rajan Patel, CEO of Kallisio, stated, “Partnering with RICOH 3D for Healthcare is a natural fit for our mission to transform cancer care. Ricoh’s expertise in advanced manufacturing and their robust distribution network, including point-of-care production capabilities and clinical applications team, make them an ideal partner. Together, we can ensure that Stentra reaches radiation oncology teams efficiently, enhancing treatment precision and patient outcomes on a broad scale.”

RICOH and Kallisio will showcase Stentra at ASTRO 2024 in Washington D.C. Here, oncology professionals can experience the device first-hand and learn more about its application in cancer treatment.