3D Printing Meets Medical Marijuana

This is not about a 3D printed “MarioBong.” Although that has been done. It’s about a 3D printed pocked-sized metered dose cannabis inhaler/vaporizer.

The device, called the Syqe Inhaler, was created by Israeli venture, Syqe Medical and is Wi-Fi enabled.

Vaping Vs Toking

Inhaler/vaporizers have virtually replaced old standbys such as the joint and the bong for both recreational and medical marijuana use.

One of the better-known units, the Puffit, has enjoyed widespread use and adoption because it looks just like an asthma inhaler and vaporizes the “herbs” making them scentless, according to the manufacturer.

Related: 14 Cannabis Stocks To Watch In 2014

Dose Control

The Syqe Inhaler was designed to give medical professionals more control over dosage in an effort to help patients on medical marijuana walk the fine line between “pain control” and “impairment.”

Syqe Medical founder and CEO Perry Davidson told The Wall Street Journal, “We are directly manipulating the human psyche in a very precise manner. A physician could prescribe a custom-tailored, individualized treatment for that patient, and not have a hit or a miss, but a very close hit on the accurate dosing that the patient required.”

Wi-Fi Enabled

The device, which can be connected to a smartphone or tablet via Wi-Fi, would allow both patients and doctors to monitor and administer the proper dosage in real time.

Being able to upload real time data would also allow researchers to determine proper dosage under different circumstances.

Using Wi-Fi, the smartphone or tablet app could automatically administer optimum dosage to patients without resorting to a long trial and error process.

Related: Why Manufacturers Should Fear 3D Printing

3D Printing Speeds Process

According to Plastics Today, 75 percent of the parts in the Syqe device were printed on multiple Stratasys, Inc. SSYS 3D printers. 

This sped up the manufacturing process and moved the project into clinical trials much quicker than if prototypes would have been created through more traditional means.

Davidson told Forbes multiple Stratasys 3D printers were required to print the four main components of the device – shell, chassis, airway and thermal housing.

The company said the Syqe Inhaler would be available for home use sometime in 2015.

At the time of this writing, Jim Probasco  had no position in any mentioned securities.