How 3D Printing Has Changed the Game in the Medical Field

There have been some phenomenal 3D printing developments in the medical arena over the last decade. Critical Manufacturing Support  has helped medical device development companies accelerate their projects and get their products to patients and recipients quickly. Big moves have been made in the development of 3D printed organs too, from experiments being performed in space using living tissues, to a world first 3D printed model of a human heart, trailblazing the way for complex surgical procedures. The medical innovation landscape has shifted significantly over the last 10 years and we are seeing more 3D printing technology make its mark in all segments of health care. In this article, we delve deeper into some of the most significant changes that have been happening with the progress of 3D printing in the medical and health care sectors. 

Reducing costs across all areas of medical care 

One of the key prohibitors to quality health care is often cost. As the prevalence of 3D printing grows, the reduction in costs for organs, devices and implants will eventually reduce, making high quality medical care much more accessible for everyone. At the moment, a standard kidney transplant can cost over $300,000 - a figure which can potentially be reduced by two-thirds if the kidney is created using additive manufacturing methods. In addition, training models for the medical sector are typically costly. However, 3D printed training materials (for example, anatomy models for surgical planning) can be produced accurately at a fraction of this cost, and in a shorter period of time than other manufacturing processes. This also improves the quality of learning for upcoming medical professionals and future researchers. 

Improving the outlook for organ transplants 

The global shortage of organ donors and subsequent transplant waiting list is an issue known to many. The global lack of registered donors and the inability to obtain organs from donors are two of the primary issues affecting successful transplants. Although bio-printing organs for donation is a long way ahead, scientists and researchers are working together to create hearts, lungs and other organs for successful transplants in the future. To date, there has only been one organ transplant that was successfully bio-printed and transplanted; a bladder which was formed using bladder tissue. Printing human tissues in this way is highly useful for medical research, for example, studying drug development and in-depth studies of organs invitro as the end products mimic actual organs.

Making progress in prosthetics

Medical prosthetics like limbs can be made in as little as 24 hours via 3D printing technology. In some cases, it can take just 14 hours to 3D print a hand. Along with this, they can also be customised in terms of style and colour according to a recipient's preferences. Again, because the cost of printing a prosthetic arm or leg is lower, it makes them more accessible for amputees and brings a new dimension with the choice it offers, for example, some users may choose to have a certain style or design of prosthetic for a given occasion. Making positive steps in prosthetics will also help the 40 million amputees (the World Health Organisation) in developing countries who are in need of orthotic and prosthetic devices, with only small percentage (around 5 - 15%) currently having access to them.

In addition to prosthetic limbs, 3D printing has been instrumental in accelerating the production and precision of latex body parts, for example, latex ears for children born without them, or that have been damaged through disease or accidents. Although these are sometimes more cosmetic than functional, their impact on mental well-being, self-esteem and quality of life cannot be underestimated. Being able to produce them much more quickly and with less waste are huge bonuses too.

Addressing high demand for medical supplies 

Alongside surgical and medical progress comes the need for improved surgical instruments, and with 3D printing's ability to customise, these instruments can be customised for the patient, the specific procedure being performed and even the surgeon. Additive manufacturing has already proved an important factor in the production of surgical equipment with metal 3D printing capabilities. The development time reduction allows for instruments to be more readily available in a shorter period than other manufacturing processes, and can be used for both reusable and single use products in a range of materials including stainless steel and titanium.

Some common examples of the type of surgical tools that are produced using 3D printers are retractors, medical clamps, scalpels, forceps and needle drivers, to name but a few. As these tools are quite simple in structure, additive manufacturing of surgical instruments is not subject to as many regulatory hurdles and other barriers, making its use much more accessible and widespread in this area of the healthcare industry. The principal advantage of the use of additive manufacturing in the production of surgical instruments is the rapidity with which alterations and modifications can be made to a prototype in response to feedback from surgeons. This sort of flexibility means that the designs can often be altered and printed within a short space of time, even on the same day.

What does the future hold for medical 3D printing?

3D printing has successfully shown it is able to penetrate almost every area of medicine. Not only is it providing improved quality for devices and equipment but it is making progress in areas that could cause a fundamental and positive shift in organ transplants across the world. We have described the way in which additive manufacturing has been embraced by the producers of surgical instruments, prosthetic limbs and machinery, but also how it is positioning itself to be the potential, long-awaited solution to the historic problem of organ transplant waiting lists and donor shortages. And not only that, as researchers continue to work, they are exploring areas never considered before and unlocking new ways of doing things in the medical sphere that could only have been dreamt about in previous decades.