The use of 3D printing in healthcare is changing rapidly, and many medical companies are constantly releasing details of new innovations in 3D printing of human body parts such as kidneys and other organs.
It is not limited to printing human organs, there are many applications of 3D printing technology in the field of healthcare and we will detail the most important of them below:
1- Print the suit:
A number of prosthetic companies are already using 3D printing to create custom prostheses, such as Open Bionics and e-NABLE - a company made up of volunteers from around the world that makes free, low-cost prostheses for children - UNYQ Corporation.
3D prostheses are made of lightweight and durable plastic materials, and are often combined with materials such as silicone, TPE (thermoplastic elastomer), rubber, etc. to fit tightly into the body.
2- Printing medical implants:
3D printed medical implants have become a major player in various medical fields, and examples of companies operating in this field include Materialize, Stryker, and 4WEP Medical.
These companies use 3D printed implants to provide precise custom solutions that help rebuild facial bones or repair spinal injuries and other challenging conditions.
Medical companies can create custom implants for patients that fit seamlessly on the body, using materials known for their strength and biocompatibility, such as titanium or cobalt and chromium, and 3D printing them with technologies such as Selective Laser Melting (SLM) or Electron Beam Combine melting. EBM (electron beam melting).
Stories of seriously injured people whose facial bones have been reconstructed using custom-printed medical implants using 3D printing technology.
3- Application of 3D printing in the pharmaceutical industry:
Companies like Aprecia Pharmaceuticals and FabRx are taking new approaches to drug manufacturing, using 3D printing technologies like fusion deposition modeling (FDM) to create tablets tailored to each patient's specific needs.
This means that 3D printing can be used to create complex structured discs that control the release of active ingredients. Porous pills made in this way dissolve quickly, while multi-layered pills can release different active ingredients at different times.
It can help elderly patients with multiple prescriptions take a customized pill that combines all the medications they need.
4- Print tissues and organs:
Companies such as Organovo and Prellis Biologics have made advances in 3D printing of human tissue. The 3D bioprinting process involves intricate details that draw on the presence of cells called bioinks to create living models of human tissues and organs. Equipped with multiple syringes, each filled with a different type of cell, the 3D printer applies those cells layer by layer until a fully formed tissue or organ is created.
In 2022, 3DBio Therapeutics will successfully 3D print human ears. Although it may seem like a no-brainer compared to printing large organs, scientists continue to improve 3D bioprinting techniques to create fully functional, transplantable organs into the human body.
5- Printing personal surgical instruments:
Another example of the use of 3D printing in healthcare is the development of custom surgical tools. Rather than using the same instrument for many different conditions, it is possible to print surgical instruments specifically designed for a specific medical procedure. Using these tools can help increase the accuracy of some complex procedures, reduce procedure time, and improve patient outcomes.