Medical Sector Innovations
3D printing in healthcare offers medical professionals a new form of treatment for patients in various ways. Recent advancements in 3D printing within the healthcare sector have led to the production of lighter, stronger, safer products while reducing lead times and costs. This technology enhances the medical specialists’ understanding of patient conditions and improves patient comfort by allowing interaction with custom-designed products tailored to their anatomy. Furthermore, this technique can be utilised for replacing human organ transplants, expediting surgical procedures, producing cost-effective alternatives to essential surgical tools, and enhancing the lives of those reliant on prosthetic limbs.
The history of technology and its advancement in the global medical market.
3D printing technology has undergone numerous stages of gradual development.
In 2020: The global market for 3D printing medical devices reached $5.17 billion USD.
By 2030: The market is estimated to reach approximately $56.68 billion USD, with an expected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 27.3%.
The global market for 3D printing devices is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa.
North America dominates the global 3D printing market, owing to the presence of major manufacturers, service offices, and engineering companies. It is the leading region in developing the 3D printing market.
It is expected that the Asia-Pacific region will experience significant growth in the targeted market, due to the evolving concept of 3D printing, customization and 3D visualization, the application of artificial intelligence, the establishment of major manufacturers, among others. These factors contribute to the heightened growth in this region.
It is projected that the value of 3D printing in the medical field will reach $3.5 billion by 2025, up from $713.3 million in 2016. The industry's compound annual growth rate (CAGR) is expected to be 17.7% between 2017 and 2025.
Some medical applications are used in the healthcare field
3D Medical Printing for Dental Applications
Dentists and orthodontic specialists require customised solutions to assist their patients. Instead of spending time crafting moulds and creating bespoke devices, dentists can now print braces, crowns, dentures, or any other necessities based on patients' X-ray images and CT scans. This advancement streamlines the process, enhancing efficiency and patient-specific care
Bone and Joint Reconstruction
Just like with prosthetics, 3D medical printing can also be utilized for bone and joint reconstruction. Instead of using a one-size-fits-all implant (which often doesn't "fit all"), additive manufacturing allows for the creation of customized implants
Prosthetics Custom-Designed for Patients
Prosthetics made using traditional manufacturing methods are expensive and may not necessarily adapt to a patient's unique form. However, with 3D printing, practitioners can create perfectly fitting, custom-designed prosthetics that precisely meet their patients' needs in a timely and cost-effective manner
Creating Custom 3D Printed Tools for the Medical Industry
Medical devices are designed to be as versatile as possible, but sometimes it's beneficial to have something more customized. Ordering specially required tools can be costly and time-consuming to receive. With 3D printing, you can create custom tools within hours, not weeks – and you can produce specialized tools for any function
Prosthetic Organs and Tissues
Thanks to a process called bioprinting, 3D medical printers are now capable of printing functional tissues. Instead of using metal or plastic, bioprinters can create structures from living cells
Some Types of Printers Used in the Medical Field
Various Types of Printers Utilizable in the Medical Sector
- Material Extrusion (FDM - Fused Deposition Modeling)"
- "Stereolithography (SLA)"
- "Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) including Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS), Selective Laser Melting (SLM), and Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)