So it started by Chuck Hall’s first printed small eye wash cup. Back in 1983, Chuck Hall manufactured world’s first 3D printer. This first 3D printed cup was not just a small cup but it gave rise to new technological revolution of additive manufacturing which is also known as 3D printing. It is now paving dynamic changes for healthcare industry. There are plenty of different healthcare areas where you will find additive manufacturing being employed by medical sciences for bringing revolutionary changes. The biggest advantage of additive manufacturing is that it is affordable, accessible and is attainable. Those science fictions are now becoming a reality and all credit goes to additive manufacturing. 

Additive manufacturing bringing revolutions in healthcare:

Dentistry with its elevation towards additive manufacturing/3D printing

Specialty Appliance, an orthodontic laboratory was looking for something very cheap for dental fixtures a few years back. Additive manufacturing turned dentistry towards itself for improving manufacturing processes and giving rise to the factor of cost reduction. Working with their first Stratasys 3D printer and going through computer – aided designing and modeling, the laboratory started manufacturing dentures at a much reduced cost with skyrocket speed. This technology has made orthodontics much affordable and cheaper for patients.

Manufacturing processes in Orthotics

There were number of complaints coming up for knee braces. According to the facts stated, 70% of patients found issues with knee braces due to their weight and appendages that were uncomfortable to limbs. For solving these issues, orthotics has now started using 3D printing for developing those traditional knee braces in lighter weight by embedding them with fewer parts as compared to old models. Additive manufacturing is reducing coat production in knee braces by almost 60% and is now manufacturing “verge” knee braces at a rapid pace for mass consumption. With the advent of this technology, knee braces are now manufacturing faster with great durability at much cheaper cost.

Customized pills – amazing pharmacology with 3D printing

The conventional method of manufacturing pills focused on producing them on mass production with one design for everyone as it was considered fastest and cost effective. As medical healthcare has now fashioned itself with additive manufacturing, you can now have customized developed pills and drugs that are totally dependent on your weight, age and sex etc. The first 3D printed epilepsy pill developed now is known as Spiritam. It simply disintegrates into the body on swallowing with liquids like water and saliva etc. It is to be noted here that additive manufacturing has given Spiritam a medium to get manufactured in a fully customized way on basis of size, shape and colors. Additive manufacturing has made drug customization more appealing to the patients as they can get them totally on their choice. The concept behind it is known as “polypill” concept.

Development of synthetic organs and cells

The most exciting revolution which additive manufacturing brought in medical healthcare is that it has totally eliminated typical black market trade of body organs. The biggest boon which additive manufacturing has settled up is the use of fibrin polymers and alginate foe supporting physical cells’ attachment. This is all because of amazing 3D printing that today engineers can print body organs like kidneys, heart and liver etc for undergoing organ transplantation. Additive manufacturing has given ease to that painstaking process of finding required donors for organ transplantation as you can develop organs from scratch now. This trend of additive manufacturing is known as 3D bio-printing. The story is not just creating human organs only but also about the development of medical equipments. Umbilical cord clamps have now been manufactured. It is highly predicted that in near future, additive manufacturing will develop catheters, endoscopes and bandages etc.

Prosthetics – a new shape with additive manufacturing

With the increase in advancements of 3D printing, additive manufacturing and computer aided designs, technological development of Sensitive Artificial Robotic and Prosthetic Hands have been emerged as the latest technology for people who lose their hand in any sort of mishap like accident, disease and due to some abnormality etc. 3D printed prosthetics have been marked as cheap, inexpensive and are continually growing as compared to prosthetics that are developed on commercial basis. When a person suffers from such condition, he or she is taken up with staggering lifestyle changes. To ease such disabled persons, to minimize such disorders and for making life easier, prosthetic hands are playing vital role. Prosthetic device is defined as an artificial extension which is used to replace extremity that can occur to any sort of body part i.e. upper or lower.

• Ease burn victims

The old methods of skin grafting for burn victims are very painful but 3D printing mechanics have taken up the drive and upended the medical world with great results. Additive manufacturing has given engineers a new technological advancement of producing the same layer – upon – layer 3d printed human skin. The biological ink used for manufacturing this human skin consists of human plasma and of all skin biopsies’ extracts. In accordance to reports, printing of 100 square centimeters human skin normally takes approximately 30 minutes. This terminology is all based upon prototypes coming from 3D bio-printers.

Therefore, additive manufacturing is playing vital roles in healthcare. You will find it as a mode of revolution in each facet of medical world. This new transformation of healthcare is going to be worthwhile.

Author: Misha Khan
Working for over 8 years in freelancing field, Misha has reputed herself to be very fine, very innovative and creative writer. She has her expertise on all writing niches and she knows the tact of transforming words into great piece of writings.