How 3D Printing Will Reshape Healthcare

November 13, 2013

Technological innovations are not always destined to succeed. And for those that do, it can be a long road to success. 3D printing technology is one such innovation. It was conceived of decades ago, but it has only recently become more widely accepted. And as the technology continues to evolve and become more cost efficient, more industries will find practical applications for it.

One industry that has already embraced 3D printing is healthcare. In 2012, medical and dental applications accounted for 16 percent of end-market revenues from this technology. And according to Credit Suisse, 90 percent of hearing aid shells are already produced using 3D printer technology.



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Prosthetics, Medical Devices and Dental Products


3D printing technology is already utilized in the manufacture of customized prosthetics. In the past, due to the high cost of production, physicians often had a limited selection of available prosthetics. 3D printing has eliminated this problem in many cases by reducing the cost of producing individual devices. It is quickly becoming just as cost efficient to produce individual devices as it would be to produce the same devices on a large scale.

The cost savings derived from 3D technology often comes from the reduction in time it takes to customize the design and make the product. The production of dental crowns and implants used to take several weeks. The lab would make the product from an impression of the patient’s mouth, and then the patient was required to return to the dentist for placement of the crown or implant. With 3D printing, these procedures can be completed in one visit, and lab costs are significantly reduced.

Organs and Internal Structures


The customized production of internal body structures is now a reality. One ground-breaking case using 3D printing for this purpose is that of baby Kaiba. In 2012, two doctors at the University of Michigan printed a “bioresorbable” device that they implanted in the airway of a baby named Kaiba. Due to a collapsed bronchus, Kaiba repeatedly stopped breathing as the resulting blockage restricted airflow to his lungs. Doctors obtained urgent clearance from the Food and Drug Administration and printed a tracheal splint made from a substance called polycaprolactone, which is a biopolymer. Implantation of the splint gave Kaiba’s bronchus the structure it needed, and continues to promote airflow and proper growth of the airway. The splint will be completely absorbed by the body in about three years.

Drug Testing and Defense from Biochemical Attack


3D printing technology can also be used to test experimental drugs. This is done by creating small replica organs. Scientists believe these organs offer an alternative to animal and human trials. Applying 3D technology in this manner may also yield more cost-effective results. The hope is that this new technology can drastically reduce the cost and time required to develop new drugs.

With funding from various agencies, including the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, researchers are pioneering methods of building small versions of organs and chunks of organ tissue for the purpose of testing not only new pharmaceutical drugs but also those developed to defend against biological attack. These collaborative efforts, which are led by The Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, also involve the University of Michigan, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and the United States Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center. The ultimate goal is to use 3D printing technology to test drugs that could be used to quickly respond to pandemics and bio-terrorist attacks.