Technology : 3D Printing
With Dr. Rami Shabel · hosted by Dr. Tom Bash & Dr. Todd Ponsky
Chapter 1 of 5 · Fundamentals
Definition
Introduction and 3D Printing Definition
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The first step for 3D printing is to create a 3D digital model, which can be created using a variety of 3D software or scanned with a 3D scanner.
3D printers can use materials including plastics, metals, ceramics, and even biologic materials, creating objects layer by layer in a predetermined shape.
3D printing uses an additive process where an object is created by laying down successive layers of material until the object is created.
3D printing is the opposite of subtractive manufacturing, which involves cutting out or hollowing out a piece of metal or plastic with a milling machine.
3D printing has been used in industries including aerospace, automotive, architecture, jewelry, art, design, fashion, and the medical field.
3D printing has been used in the humanitarian and development sector to produce medical items, prosthetics, spares, and repairs.
3D printing is a process of making solid three-dimensional objects from a digital file by laying down thin layers of materials, then fusing those layers together to create an object that ranges in size, shape, rigidity, and color.
Prototyping is probably the largest application of 3D printing today, even though it has matured into an excellent solution for many kinds of production parts.
Personalized medicine (precision medicine) is a medical model in which physicians use diagnostic tests to determine which medical treatments will work best for every patient.
New tools including genome editing, artificial intelligence, wearables, and 3D printing are important for improving the personalized medicine model.
Medical devices produced by 3D printing include orthopedic and cranial implants, dental restorations, external prosthetics like hands and legs, and surgical instruments such as forceps, hemostats, scalpel handles, and clamps.
Some 3D-printed devices are printed from a typical design to create multiple identical copies, while others called patient-specific devices are created from a particular patient's imaging data.
Patient-specific organ replicas created by 3D printing can be used by surgeons to practice on before performing complicated operations.
Using 3D-printed organ replicas for surgical practice has been proven to speed up procedures and minimize trauma for patients.
According to a paper, the repeated advancement of 3D printing technologies could move pharmaceutical production from mass manufacture to on-demand personalized dosage forms, providing patients with more safe and effective medicine.
Scientists are researching the use of 3D printing to manufacture living organs like a heart or liver, but according to the FDA this research is in early stages of development.
3D printing is a promising technology for making healthcare more accessible among patients by lowering the costs of implants and other medical devices.
3D printing is a technology that allows for greater understanding of complex cases and provides new tools that can result in better success in surgery.