3D printing plays a great role in many industries. In the medical industry, it plays 4 main functions. According to Allie Nawrat, it can help replace the transplantation of human organs, boost surgical procedures and produce inexpensive surgical tools. Let’s know more how 3D printing can help the medical industry.
3D printing, aka additive manufacturing, appeared in the 1980s for the first time. With this technology, the digital blueprint/model of something is taken and then printed in layers to create a fresh version of that thing.
According to many forecasts, the value of 3D printing will touch $3.5bn in 7 years. In 2016, it’s worth $713.3 million. Since technology is making our lives easier, it will surely raise the value of everything that involves the use of technology.
Primarily, 3D printing has 4 uses in the medical industry: printing organs and tissues, making surgical tools, making special surgical models and prosthetics.
Organoids and tissues
Bioprinting is a type of 3D printing in the medical field. Bioprinters make use of a computer-aided pipette for layering living cells. These organoids/constructs may be a good alternative to real organs.
Organovo, a medical lab in the USA, is working on a similar project. In North Carolina, the Wake Forest Institute followed a similar approach and developed a three-dimensional brain organoid.
Surgery preparation assisted by the use of 3D printed models
Another use of this technology is to make customized organ models that surgeons can use to work prior to engaging in complicated surgical procedures. This technique can minimize trauma and make the procedures more efficient.
In Dubai, surgeons have the freedom to use 3D printing. They used 3D models of a patient’s arteries to find out how to work on the blood vessels safely. The procedure was successful.
Surgical instruments
With 3D printers, many sterile surgical tools can be made, such as scalpel handles, hemostats, and forceps, to name a few.
The surgical tools can help surgeons operate on very small areas safely. On top of this, the cost of producing these tools can be a lot lower.
Customized prosthetics
In the medical field, this technology can help make prosthetic limbs that can fit the subject. The conventional method of making these artificial limbs is too low and patients have to wait for months to get their “limbs” made. But 3D printing can boost the process of creating inexpensive products.
As the cost of these prosthetic limbs is very low, kids can benefit from them as they won’t cost as much as the traditional prosthetic limbs.
With 3D printing, patients can design a product that can meet their needs perfectly. For instance, some companies allow their clients to create models by scanning their limbs. This way they can create products that can fit them well.
So, this was an introduction to the use of 3D printing in the medical industry. If you are looking for 3D printers, you can import from abroad. If you are on a budget, you can consider Chinese 3D printing companies. Hopefully, one day, this technology will bring a revolution all over the world and every industry will benefit from it in one way or the other. Let’s hope for the best.
If you are into 3D printing, you can check out 3D printing companies in China. They can answer your questions and guide you further.
Resource box: This article is originally posted in http://www.3dprintingchina.com.
