Healthcare Industry progresses with the advent of 3D Printing

SmarTech Analysis, a market research firm has reported that the market for 3D printing is currently $1.25 billion and it is estimated to grow to $6.08 billion by 2027.This clearly indicates the huge potential for the healthcare industry.

What is 3D Printing?

The latest technology in healthcare used by Doctors, Hospitals and Researchers globally for customised surgery, pre-operative planning, prostheses, implants and more is 3D Printing. It is also used for patient specific replicas of bones, organs, blood vessels and development of drill guides. The progress in this arena has led to safer and stronger products; not to forget the reduced lead times and lower costs. This technology is bridging the gap between doctors and patients; with doctors getting better equipped to take on challenges and patients getting effective solutions.

Various sectors from the medical industry are benefitting from this progressive technology especially Orthopaedics and Dental.

3 key applications of 3D printing

1. 3D-printed orthopaedic implants - These are medical devices used to surgically replace a missing joint or bone and 3D printing plays a key role in the process. The high-end technology enables medical professionals to create better-fitting, longer-lasting and higher-performing implants.

2. Personalised surgery - Using patients own imaging and 3D printing technology, patient specific models of organs and surgical tools can be developed.

3. Medical & Dental Devices – 3D printing is now being extensively used in making healthcare devices like prosthetics, braces, dentures, restorations and clear aligners.

Economical

The key benefit of 3D printing is the low-cost personalisation. In case of traditional manufacturing like moulding, each customised device would need customised production and special tooling; leading to very high costs. On the other hand a 3D printer requires only a digital file to produce a device, customising a design becomes easier and many different devices in one batch can be produced.

If we look at prosthetics, with 3D printing, prosthetic limbs are becoming much more affordable and faster to produce. The technology is being effectively used to create prosthetics tailored to the patient’s anatomy. This has resulted in better prosthetic fit and utmost patient satisfaction.

This is especially beneficial for developing prostheses for children. As we know children grow very fast and very soon outgrow the traditional prostheses. Replacing them regularly with traditional methodology is a very expensive affair. 3D printing has made this convenient and much more economical.

Advances in 3D printing technology

The medical industry has witnessed remarkable progress with the advent of 3D printing technology. Additionally the technology is getting better and making huge contributions; positively affecting many lives. The new tools and therapeutic methods being developed are bringing enormous comfort and personalization to treatment. Doctors on the other hand are able to confidently and efficiently treat even very complex cases.

3D printing now finds its presence in surgical planning models to 3D printed vasculature and bioreactors. CT & MRI scans have now become affordable and detailed. This has increased patient satisfaction, reduced anxiety, reduced operating time and cost in the OT and has substantially reduced recovery time.

Today, 3D printing is being used in Bladder transplant. The bladder is formed from the host’s bladder tissue. The ability to customise organs for the recipient through 3D printing has reported successful results and positive impact.

Benefits of 3D printing

Customization – Compared to simply fabricating parts, 3D printing empowers the creation of prosthetic and orthotic devices to perfectly fit the patient’s anatomy. Because of this the patient feels adequate and confident.

Lead time – 3D printing in healthcare has enabled designers and engineers to make designs efficiently and fast. Thus, within a short span of time the 3D printer can print the custom parts, iterate the design of a medical tool and print a new model for assessment.

Costs – When one needs to create customised parts and devices, a lot of detailing is required. If the process is done manually, not only is there scope for human error but constant corrections would be required. This will keep adding on to the expense. 3D printing on the other hand not only ensures accuracy but enables doctors to make several iterations without incurring huge costs. Additionally, 3D printing in healthcare is most suited for low volume production, which implies costs will drop while effectiveness increases.

Sterizable – In the medical industry sterilizability is important. 3D printing knows a lot of materials that are sterizable, strong and lightweight; PEEK and Ultem being the most appropriate.

Complexity – Earlier creating complex organic shapes was a humongous task but with the advent of 3D printing in healthcare, designing has limitless potential. New composites and hybrid plastics help to make body parts with precision and improved strength. Thus, patients are able to enjoy enhanced quality, comfort and cost effectiveness.

Applications of 3D printing in healthcare

Learning and anatomical replicas - One of the largest areas of application of 3D printing is the fabrication of anatomical replicas. Doctors utilise models produced by 3D printing from patient scan data to enhance the diagnosis of illnesses, clarify treatment decisions, plan, and even practise chosen surgical interventions in advance of the actual treatments, in some cases. The models enable doctors to get a clear visual understanding of the patient anatomy which is otherwise difficult to visualise, especially when using minimally invasive techniques.

Surgical tools – Following a patient’s unique anatomy has become easier and more accurate with 3D printing in healthcare. The 3D printed tools make the placement of restorative treatments (screws, plates and implants) more accurate, resulting in better postoperative results.

Prosthetics – Replacement or alterations can be time consuming and very expensive. Prosthetics are personal items; each one has to be custom-made or fit to the needs of the wearer. 3D printing has brought in a revolution in this arena. It can now be used to produce patient specific components of prosthetics that match perfectly with the user’s anatomy; giving a perfect fit, better comfort and leading to positive results.

Regenerative medicine – Regenerative medicine involves many different areas, using biomaterials, cells to create organs for transplants instead of relying on the current donor model. 3D printers are undeniably helpful in the organ transplant process; bladder transplants have proved the same.

Precision medicines – Introducing 3D printers to pharmacies and hospitals allow physicians, nurses, and pharmacists to form a dose and delivery system based on the patient’s body size, age, lifestyle, and sex. This renders a personal touch to the patient and also saves money and resources.

Streamlined and more efficient R&D processes – With drugs failing at later stages, there is a substantial R&D crisis in the pharmaceutical industry. Coming to the rescue are 3D printers. The bioprinted tissues and organs help increase the success rate of clinical trials. Researchers can now print fully functional organs made of human cells to test a drug’s efficacy prior to using in vivo animal or human tests. This not only reduces the damage caused to animals, but also expedites the entire R&D process.

Summing up, the advent and progress of 3D printing in the healthcare sector has resulted in accurate diagnosis, more effective treatment and solutions that were once unimaginable.