The Improvement of 3D Additive Printing in the Medical Field
Among the technologies that are thriving 3D printing or additive manufacturers is one that is very impressive. It has so many functions in different industries and it has shown great importance in the medical field and in the pharmaceutical field.
What is 3D Printing?
3D printing or three dimensional printing is a method of additive manufacturing of objects by fusing materials such a plastic, metal, ceramic, powder, liquid and living cells to produce objects in 3D, layer by layer.
3D printing technology was developed in the 1980s, it involves the taking of object blueprints and printing the object in successive layer, creating the object by adding all parts in layers. 3D additive printing in the medical field is going to be worth $3 billion in 2025 and this technology has become productive in the medical field for the creation of surgical tools, Organoids, tissues and other medical tools. 3D printing has brought great innovation and achievement to the medical field.
Why 3D is Useful in the Medical field
Creation of Organoids for Practices
3D printing has improved the medical field as it has played an important role in training medical practitioners especially surgeons. Having tangible 3-dimentional model of a patient’s anatomy with the creation of organoids, practicing surgeons can perform test experiments as well as make researches. With the use of 3D, surgeons can try a particular approach or device on the organoids with no fear about the loss of life of the patients.
The use of 3D created organoids for surgical test helps to identify complications in operations in areas like birth, spinal repair, heart and other organ transplant and fix them before the main surgery.
Printing of Biological Tissue and organs and other body parts.
With so much improvement on 3D printing, it has shown that 3D printing technology can be used to print blood vessels, tissues, and organs in the human body so as to help with transplant. With the use of 3D printing, there have been success in recreating body parts from teeth, ears and other body part.
Creation of Medical and pharmaceutical Devices
Unlike buying expensive medical tools and devices, with metal 3D printing, most surgical tools can be printed. It has enabled the creation of less expensive sterile devices and tools such as forceps, hemostats, scalpel handle and clamp. The use of 3D printing has helped in making very objects which can be used to operate tiny areas in the body without damaging the part being operated upon. Also, with the use of a 3D machine in the medical field, creation of custom made prosthetic limbs to fit amputee patients at a lower price and at a quicker time.
3D printed Pills
With the help of 3D printing, pharmacologist have been able to produce simple 3D printed pills that houses multiple drugs at once and at different release time. An example is “polypill” a 3D printed pill which has been tested for diabetic patients. It helps reduce the intake of multiple drugs at once. This is cost effective and it eliminates the monitoring of drug intake with different schedules.
In Conclusion
3D printing is causing a lot of growth the health industry especially the medical field at an impressive rate. Doctors, Surgeons, Pharmacist and other medical practitioners can now work better and easier on patient also 3D printing has enabled patient with the need of supportive aids to get it at a cheaper, faster and easier way with custom fits. Improvement to 3D printing as well as other forms of printing in the medical field will mean ease to the profession and increasing success in daily activities.
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What do you mean by Nigerian movie, is there a description of how 3D is used in any Nigerian movie?
3D printing is one thing I have heard about and it's application to medicine is definitely going to be amazing and beautiful.
Resteemed already. Upvote on the wayb @gbenga :)
Dear @gbenga
I've been wondering lately if 3d printing can became used in mass production at some point. Right now we're witnessing supply chain across the globe breaking into pieces and I thought, that perhaps it's going to create opportunites for 3d printers.
Small parts in all auto-mobile factories could be "manufactured" this way. What is your opinion?
Also will it hammer humans job market? After all there will be less people required in manufacturing sector.
Upvoted already,
Yours, Piotr
The use of 3D additive printing in mass production has only just begun in few industries. It is certain if new innovative technology do not overtake 3D printing , it will be used in mass production.
Currently, Daimler AG have been using 3D printing for the creation of very tiny screws which could be very difficult to create manually.
The recent technological advances have become a threat to human jobs and this is something of concern. Also, humans have always found a way around things and at such creating other jobs for themselves so having new technologies take human current jobs might not be a major problem.
Thanks Piotr for taking time to read my post.
You did a nice job here buddy. I've read about 3D printing being used industrially. Now, it has found application medically. I once read a research about 3D printed bones. I foresee a future where almost all human organs will be 3D printed
Thanks a lot @samminator for reading through my post. I actually foresee a future where 3D can perform more but with the increase in innovations, it might become obsolete as other 4D and 5D printing will take over in a very short time.
Only seen 3D printers on TV/movies. So I'm guessing that making such prints will also require designing the inner layers of the structure right?
The complete blueprint structure will be designed while the Printer will create by adding layers by layers. That's why it is called additive printing
!tip
Thanks for the tip. I am really greatful.
solid read @gbenga.
@tipu curate
Upvoted 👌 (Mana: 10/15 - need recharge?)
When I read the topic 3D printing, it sure sounded like something I have an idea about, but reading through has made me realize how complex it is when used in the medical field.
This must have taken your time and attention, great work.
Thanks a lot @ojerinde, 3D additive printing is going to become a commercial use case in the nearest future. Thanks for dropping by.
Congrats for the post ! My bachelor work was 3D printing project. That's one of the technologies of the next 30-50 years which will be deeper develop.
Thanks a lot. I am sure you enjoyed your bachelor work project. I can say that 3D is the printing for the next 2 decades but for 5 decades, i guess other dimensional printing will take over.