What is 3D Printing in Healthcare? How Does it Work?

In recent years, the impact of 3D printing in healthcare has been remarkable. The groundbreaking innovation has completely reshaped the traditional approach we take towards medical treatment and research. From prosthetics to implants to medical devices, there are vast applications of 3D printing in the medical field.

In this article, we’ll delve deep into what 3D printing is, how it works, and how it has revolutionized healthcare with its diverse applications.

What is 3D Printing?

3D printing is a modern technology used to construct three-dimensional objects based on digital designs. The digital designs are customized for each patient and made through computer-aided design software.

Unlike with conventional paper printing, you won’t have to worry about paper size, paper thickness, or paper quality, but you will have to consider what material to use. The materials mostly used to make medical scaffolds and objects through 3D printing in healthcare include metal, plastic, ceramics, and other biomaterials.

How Does 3D Printing in Healthcare Work?

The first step to fabricating an object by 3D printing in healthcare is creating a digital model of the desired object through CAD software. The design is usually intricate and is tailored to the patient’s requirement with precise measurements and details. 

Once the design is complete, another specialized software is used to slice the digital model into thin horizontal sections. These digital slices are then interpreted by a 3D printer, which deposits and solidifies one layer of the chosen material after the other. The process repeats until the object is completely printed. Depending on the size, design complexity, and printer used, the print can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several days to complete.

Examples of 3D Printing in Healthcare

Here are some 3D printing in healthcare examples to help you better understand the uses of the technology in this field:

Implants

When it comes to 3D printing, healthcare majorly uses this technology to fabricate implants, e.g., titanium plates for repairing a fracture, specifically designed according to each patient’s anatomy. This customization helps reduce the risks of complications like implant loosening or tissue damage. 

Dentistry

In dentistry, 3D printing is used to make dental crowns, bridges, and aligners to cater to the comfort and fit of their patients. The final products are so high quality that it’s often difficult to differentiate between them and an actual tooth.

Prosthetics

With standard-built prosthetics, patients often complain of discomforts like pain and pinching. That’s why medical professionals use 3D printing in healthcare to make more comfortable ones with measurements best suited for the patient.

Bioprinting

Bioprinting is a field of healthcare aiming to fabricate actual tissues and organs using 3D printing. The ink used for this application is called bio-ink, which is composed of living cells and biomaterials. While this field is majorly research-based right now, researchers are working to fabricate organs in the future to combat the ongoing donor organ shortage.

Anatomical Models

Every now and then, surgeons encounter complex surgeries that require practice to make sure nothing goes wrong during the actual procedure. So, they use 3D-printed anatomical models that mimic the anatomy of their patients and use them to perform practice surgeries on.

Surgical Tools

Sometimes, patients with complex and rare conditions require complex surgical tools to be operated on. Since standard surgical tools don’t meet the shape requirements, the complex surgical tools are 3D printed with biomaterials.

Conclusion

The innovation of 3D printing has completely changed the face of medicine in the past few years and continues to hold great promise for the future. That being said, researchers have to be extremely careful during each step and consider all the relevant 3D printing in healthcare pros and cons. After all, human lives are at stake.

The practical applications of the field are right now limited to prosthetics, surgical tools, implants, etc., but with further advancements, the field holds the promise of overcoming great medical challenges, including organ shortage.