3-D Printing in healthcare: the disruption is here

By Divya Jyothi Sampathi – Marketing Head – Intech DMLS Pvt. Ltd a visionary market leader in 3D metal printing.

Emergence of new disruptive technologies has become the norm in the 21^st century. Today, the buzz is about breakthroughs in blockchain, artificial intelligence, Big Data, augmented and virtual reality, etc. However, it is 3-D printing/additive manufacturing (AM) that holds the key to the future. As the name indicates, AM is a process where pre-determined proportions of raw materials are used to produce an object, layer-upon-layer, exactly as per the design created.

AM applications in healthcare industry

Healthcare industry is one of the biggest users of AM. The capability to create complex products that can be perfectly customized for the end-users makes AM an ideal technology for the industry. The applications are many, and 3-D printed solutions have helped save lives and improve the quality of life in many patients. It is being used even in dentistry to create customized dental aligners, crowns and bridges.

3-D printed prosthetics

Millions of people suffer loss of limbs due to various reasons. Thus, the need for customized prosthetics is a perennial one. This is one area where AM has already been helpful, and its usage is growing rapidly. One of the biggest benefits of using metal-based AM in production of prosthetics is the reduced cost. 3-D printed hands, arms and legs are being produced to enable those undergoing amputations live a better life.

3D printing of surgical instruments

3-D printing facilitates customization of surgical instruments. Each patient has a different body composition and the usage of customized plates, screws, and implants etc. can yield better post-surgery results compared to ‘standard size’ tools. Metals such as titanium and aluminum are typically used to produce such customized surgical tools.

3D printed models in surgery preparation

3-D printing facilitates recreation of precise bio-organic models of human organs. These models can transform the way preparation for surgery is done. While preparing the strategy, doctors can perform mock surgeries on these models. This will enable them to better co-ordinate the procedure plans and can reduce the time spent on actual surgeries.

3-D printed bones

3-D printed bones are already a reality. In August 2017, Chinese doctors carried out a complex cervical vertebra replacement procedure on a 28-year-old patient suffering from a rare strain of bone cancer. The patient’s condition was such that implant or standard chemotherapy wasn’t possible. The doctors eventually managed to 3-D print the replacement bones using titanium. The complexity of this endeavor and the survival of the patient proves that 3-D printed bones will become more prevalent in the years ahead.

3-D printed tissues

Human skin comprises multiple layers. Thus, it is very much in the domain of additive printing (3-D printing) to recreate human skin. Scientists from Madrid, Spain have successfully created a prototype for a 3D bioprinter that can recreate fully functional human skin. This skin has immense usage in plastic surgery or in laboratory testing of cosmetic, chemical and pharmaceutical products.

AM trends in the healthcare industry

There are a number of trends that have emerged from the usage of AM in the healthcare industry. It is possible to access surgical models on-demand which can help surgeons prepare faster for an emergency surgical procedure.

It is now possible to create precisely customized surgical tools such as screws, plates, metal implants, and devices such as hearing aids. This customization yields much improved patient outcome and there is an increasing demand for such products.

Another major advantage of using AM in healthcare is the ability to use multiple raw materials to create a customized implant. A combination of metals and bio materials can be used to produce implants such as knee caps, hip replacements etc. Not only this, the creation of smart implants or wearable devices that respond to the condition of individual patients is also being made possible by this technology.

In conclusion

The possibilities offered by metal-based 3-D printing in the healthcare industry are virtually endless. While the impact is already being witnessed in several areas, the future is likely to belong to 3-D metal printing that also integrates bio materials to create sturdy, customized and result-oriented healthcare products. The transformation has begun!

Corporate Comm India(CCI Newswire)