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3D Printing In Healthcare: What It Is And How It Is Used

Health & Medical Blog

3D printing in healthcare is a relatively new concept that is quickly gaining popularity because of the benefits it offers. Through 3D printing companies, doctors and healthcare workers are able to make custom prints or models of many different body parts. With these models, they are able to more accurately locate problems and create replacement body parts.

When Was This Developed?

3D printing in healthcare came about during the 1980s, but it has significantly advanced since its first inception. It is often referred to as additive manufacturing and is used for many reasons. Through this technology, doctors are able to make 3D molds of most body parts, and they can use these to analyze health problems of individuals.

The molds are made with a computer, and they can use a variety of different materials for the molds, including silicone and titanium.

What Is Its Purpose?

There are two main uses for 3D printing, and the first is to locate problems with body parts. Suppose a young child has a heart problem and the doctors are planning on operating on it. Before they operate, they could create a 3D image of the child's heart.

This image is something they can hold and look it, and it may reveal damage that they originally didn't see. It could even change their original plan for operating, and therefore they might be able to achieve more successful results all because of the mold they made.

The second way 3D printing can be used is to create artificial body parts. Suppose a person has major damage to his skull. Through this technology, a doctor could create an artificial skull for the person by taking 3D images. This would help the doctor have an artificial skull that would fit perfectly because it was created directly from the person's actual skull.

What Can It Be Used For?

3D printing can currently be used to replicate many different body parts, including:

  • Liver
  • Skull
  • Heart
  • Hand
  • Eyes
  • Hips
  • Knees
  • Foot

When a body part is not functioning properly, a doctor can scan it and create a replica of it. The doctor can then examine it and study it, and he or she can even make prosthetic body parts to replace this part.

According to Information Week Healthcare, there are not a lot of hospitals that currently have these printers. This is primarily because these machines are very expensive. They can cost from $40,000 to $1 million, and many healthcare organizations simply cannot afford to pay this amount for a 3D printer.

3D printing will probably become a very common and popular service in the future, even though it is limited right now. If you have a child that has a serious health problem, you may want to look for a healthcare provider that offers 3D printing services. 

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26 November 2014