Medical 3D printing has come a long way in recent years, with applications ranging from creating individualized anatomical models to fabricating live tissue and inexpensive surgical equipment. We can now tailor a patient’s health care to their specific anatomical and physiological needs with the help of the revolutionary advancements 3D printers are bringing to the medical field.
Artificial Organs
Full-fledged organ replacement is one of the most promising uses of 3D-printed human tissue. This 3D printing medical innovation has far-reaching benefits, such as the potential to end the current scarcity of transplantable organs and significantly improve transplant success rates.
Although scientists cannot yet replicate whole organs for transplantation, they are making strides in this direction. Scientists have taken a massive step toward constructing a fully 3D-printed human heart by recreating tiny quantities of cardiac heart tissue in lab circumstances that mimic the physiological properties of the donor patient.
Personal Protective Equipment
Medical industry professionals were well-acquainted with personal protective equipment (PPE) before 2020. But with the COVID-19 outbreak, ordinary citizens were suddenly clamoring for the best PPE, only to strike out because of the massive demand. 3D printing could have helped make up for the deficit in the supply chain.
However, the FDA recognizes several obstacles to this premise. Printed protective gear may not always be as safe as conventionally made alternatives. Either way, COVID-19 revealed what a huge improvement 3D printing could make in satisfying an urgent worldwide need.
New Medical Devices
Medical tool 3D printing seems easy compared to building complicated biological structures like hearts and bones. While there are still many hurdles, researchers have made significant progress.
Clamps, scalpel handles, and forceps are popular examples of 3D-printed medical instruments today. Due to its efficiency and low cost and thanks to stainless equivalents, 3D printing in the medical field is an exciting area of study with the potential to reduce the price of surgical equipment and increase access to health care in developing countries.
Stem Cell Research
Stem cell research is an exciting new frontier in many areas of medicine, and 3D printing is at the front of this sector. Labs around the nation are bioprinting stem cells for use in medicine and surgery due to their regenerative properties.
Take the work of Texas A&M University scientists who used 3D modeling software, bioprinting, and stem cells to develop custom bone transplants. Without titanium implants, these grafts may allow for rapid bone regeneration and individualized bone architectures. Research in this field may significantly alter how doctors approach craniofacial implantation and bone growth.
Pharmaceuticals
The field of medicine is another one-of-a-kind area of research for 3D printing. Researchers have looked at the potential production benefits of 3D printing over conventionally manufactured pharmaceuticals for the last several years. After much debate about the potential benefits of 3D-made pharmaceuticals, the first 3D-printed pharmaceutical to get FDA approval entered the market in 2015.
Researchers believe these developments may pave the way for even more far-out uses, such as Bluetooth-enabled electronic medicines that can remain in a patient’s stomach for up to a month. Despite the lack of clarity on their ultimate use, these technologies represent a promising new frontier in medical 3D printing.
The advancements that 3D printers bring to the medical field are encouraging for the future. Being able to lean on 3D printing for critical medical procedures would be groundbreaking and potentially save millions of lives. 3D Printers Depot is your hub to buy 3D printers online. Although you may not need to make an organ out of thin air, you can enjoy everything else 3D printing has to offer!