When commercial and personal 3D printers started hitting the market, many people viewed them as little more than amusements or something that would only have a niche use. However, it did not take long at all for the full potential of 3D printing to show its promise in a variety of sectors, especially in the medical field.
Recently, Cal State Fullerton mechanical engineering students designed an inexpensive 3D printed prosthetic arm that could be easily printed on a home 3D printer. It was intended for individuals in impoverished countries, in this case Guatemala, who might otherwise be unable to afford or not have access to professionally made, but expensive, prosthetics to replace missing limbs. The students made the design open-source, and readily available online so that it might be usable wherever it’s needed. Many people in the medical field took notice and began recognizing the numerous potential applications of 3D printing in the medical field. Here are some ways 3D printing meets medical needs.
1. Affordable Medical Equipment
Medical equipment is expensive, especially if it must be personalized for the patient. Many professionally made pieces of equipment use costly materials, while ABS plastic for 3D printers is relatively cheap. On many file-sharing websites, the user can find free plans for splints, casts, prosthetics, or replacement parts. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many medical supporters began 3D printing ventilator parts for patients as the demand for ventilators began outstripping the supply of single-use parts for the machines.
2. Custom Educational Models
When facing a complex surgical procedure or some other situation in which medical professionals have only one chance to get it right, having custom models to practice on might mean the difference between success and failure in the actual procedure. Detailed MRI scans allow surgeons to 3D print exact models of cancerous tumors, organs, fetal surgeries, and, in one case, conjoined twins facing separation surgery.
3. Replicating Body Parts and Implants
When body parts such as noses and ears are lost by accident, cancer, or birth defects, 3D-printed molds that hold collagen cells, implanted under the skin where they can grow, allow surgeons to literally grow new body parts for patients in need of replacements. In France, one woman grew a new nose for herself after losing hers to cancer by making use of a 3D-printed mold implanted in her forearm.
4. Replacement Biomaterials
Although still in their early stages, biomedical 3D printers show promise in allowing surgeons to 3D print replacement blood vessels, heart valves, bones, and even skin. These will be of great help to patients in need of quick replacements due to accidents or any medical events that occur.
As medical 3D printing gains new territory in various innovative ways to treat patients, the future of medical 3D printing is very promising both now and in the future. Already, patents and FDA approval for certain devices and procedures are in effect, and advances in printing technology themselves allow for a more versatile use of the technology to treat a variety of conditions.