Do you know that the very first 3D printing devices came about in 1981? It was when Dr Hideo Kodama invented one of the first rapid prototyping machines; this created parts layer by layer using a resin, which could be polymerised by UV light.
Now, many years later, 3D printing has truly come a long way. From medical implantations, prosthetics, and surgical planning to drug delivery systems, this technology revolutionised the field of medicine with transformative benefits in many aspects. As this technology continues to evolve, the applications of 3D printing in healthcare grow exponentially to form the basis of modern medical practice.
Only by understanding how 3D printing compares with more conventional technologies can one appreciate what all the fuss is about.
A Brief History Of Traditional Medical Technologies
Up until recently, medical devices, implants, and anatomic models in particular were manufactured using more traditional approaches, which included the following:
- Casting And Molding: Casting and molding techniques have been used, for years, as a critical part of fabricating personalised medical devices. Prosthetics and dental implants used to be made by modelling the patient’s anatomical or dental impressions. These were prone to many inaccuracies and were much time-consuming.
- Computer Numerical Control-CNC Machining: This is another old method used. While CNC machining allows for the fabrication of more complex devices with a far greater degree of accuracy than that possible by manual techniques, it still suffers from significant limitations with respect to the ability to customise products with the precision required in the medical field.
- Handmade Implants: Most of the early prosthetics and implants were handcrafted by skilled artisans. This mostly led to devices that were not so precision-oriented. Not to mention, such implants could hardly be reproduced because of their handcrafted nature, and long wait times further restricted their accessibility.
The Increasing Use Of 3D Printing In Medical Practice
1. Precise Customisation
For instance, if we consider orthopaedics, 3D printing is a lot easier to make knee and hip replacements. Instead of having to make do with standardised implants, which may never be an ideal fit, a 3D-printed implant can be designed based on the patient’s specific bone structure to a T!
2. Cost-Effectiveness And Speed
Traditional methods of making customised medical devices involve many stages and a lot of manual work. Consequently, this makes such processes not only very time-consuming but also quite expensive.
However, 3D printing significantly reduces production time and overall expenditure. 3D printing also enables the manufacturers of medical appliances to design and test new products much faster. All new types of treatment and medical devices reach final consumers faster than ever.
3. Surgical Planning And Precision
The role of 3D printing extends into the process of surgical planning. Today, surgeons can create 3D-printed models of a patient’s internal organs, bones, or other anatomical parts with the help of data from MRI or CT scans.
The surgeons may practise and prepare for complicated procedures much more precisely in complex cases, like tumour removals or reconstructive surgeries, by being able to use a model produced by 3D printing. This could potentially reduce complications and operating time, benefiting not only the patients but also the health systems.
4. Bioprinting And Tissue Engineering
Probably one of the most exciting developments in 3D printing is bioprinting.
Printing the organs with bio-inks prepared from the cells of a patient to create an artificial or engineered living tissue! Though this technique is still in its infancy, bioprinting can revolutionise organ transplantation one day. It does away with dependency on donor organs, and already, scientists have achieved considerable success in printing functional tissues like skin, cartilage, and even heart valves.
The role that bioprinting can play in solving the chronic organ shortages across the world cannot be underestimated. Indeed, active researchers are well on course to engineer even the most complex organs, including kidneys and livers, which would not only reduce waiting lists for transplants but also save many lives.
5. Drug Delivery And Pharmaceutical Applications
3D printing now allows the design and construction of personalised drug delivery systems. Such systems release medications at specific times and dosages tailored to each patient’s needs. 3D printing can also produce what is known as “polypills”. This is a multi-drug formulation where different medicines are integrated into a single tablet with the aim of simplifying the treatment regimens of patients with chronic conditions and who usually need to handle many pills per day.
3D Printers Used in Healthcare
| 3D Printer Model | Manufacturer | Applications in Healthcare |
|---|---|---|
| Form 2 | Formlabs | Dental prosthetics, surgical guides, hearing aids, anatomical models |
| Ultimaker 3 | Ultimaker | Surgical tools, splints, medical devices, anatomical models |
| MakerBot Replicator Z18 | MakerBot | Medical devices, prosthetics, anatomical models, drug delivery systems |
| Stratasys J750 | Stratasys | Surgical models, patient-specific implants, medical devices |
| EnvisionTEC 3D Print Pro 500 | EnvisionTEC | Dental prosthetics, surgical guides, hearing aids |
| EOS M 290 | EOS | Medical implants, surgical instruments, anatomical models |
3D Printing In Medicine Tomorrow
The use of 3D printing is endless-education, art, construction, medicine. With further development in technology, we could expect that in the near future, more 3D-printed devices, personalised medicine, and bioprinting applications would find wider acceptance. The ability to develop patient-specific solutions quickly, affordably, and with complete accuracy would change care both for doctors and patients.
Personalised prosthetics, printing organs-from now on, this technology will surely change how we deliver healthcare and, really, for generations beyond, which we cannot wait for.