Emily Newton, Editor-in-Chief, Revolutionized03.17.23
The relatively new method of 3D printing medical devices has given rise to new technologies and solutions in the medical and healthcare industries. To understand why it’s so influential and what kind of benefits it will provide, you must dig a little deeper.
Traditional manufacturing in healthcare and the medical field is a contentious operation because many of the devices, tools, and items not only have stringent limitations—they are being used in and around the human body, after all—but every human is different. The latter means sometimes the equipment needs specific personalization to conform to the body, whether it’s a unique shape, elements, or something else entirely.
At times, this can stretch out the manufacturing process, which is less than ideal when patients need the equipment as soon as possible. It can also lead to more generalized designs, which may or may not be comfortable for use in the body. 3D printing may be the solution the world needs.
Another emerging solution is bioprinting, which involves producing bio-ready elements on demand. This could include printing organs, living tissue, blood vessels, bone, and much more. Multidisciplinary engineers and researchers have successfully printed vascular tissue that could be used for the kinds of regenerative medicine. Realistically, you may see printed organs and the like within the next decade, maybe even sooner.
But above all, with traditional manufacturing, customization tends to extend the length of the process, so items take longer to design, produce, and deliver. The nature of 3D printing and additive manufacturing means it’s possible to create much faster, even through regular iterations and prototypes.
This is especially pertinent when crafting optimal designs for ultra-small or irregularly shaped cases, like those used in medical devices. Even after a design has been perfected, smaller cases can create many manufacturing headaches with parties such as automation equipment, machine builders, packaging operation managers, operators, and technicians.
3D-printed products can be designed, created, tested, and handed over to healthcare professionals and their patients faster than ever before. As a positive side effect, this essentially means speedier and better care all around.
Malleable metals might be damaged easier during development or in the patient’s hands, or unfamiliar materials might run into other issues, like slower production times, failure points at joints and connections, and much more. It’s easy to see why this cannot happen in the healthcare field, as a minor defect could have a severe impact.
When 3D printing medical devices, lowered costs do not translate to lower-quality items. In fact, this is not the case in additive manufacturing in general. That’s because most printing technologies are already designed from the ground up to work with a variety of materials.
The extruder—or portion of the printer that produces the item—laying polymers and components during the printing process, can be swapped out in most cases, as well. One system might be configured to print plastic types of devices but can easily be reconfigured for light metals or alloys, concrete, or even wood. There’s not much use for wood or concrete in or around the human body, but these examples show how versatile 3D printers are.
Manufacturers can easily swap out materials for lower-cost alternatives without compromising the design. It also helps that 3D printing technologies create items in layers—which is inherently strong—but other strategies can be leveraged to develop more robust prints without ballooning costs. Using stronger materials, increasing the layer wall thickness, increasing infill density, changing the infill pattern, and adjusting flow rates are just a few strengthening examples that can help create a better product.
Of course, printed tissues and organics wouldn’t apply here. This is more about rigid devices made out of metals, plastics, and other materials. The biggest takeaway is that it’s both cost-effective and convenient to make changes when 3D printing medical devices, or even to create entirely new models if necessary.
The reality is 3D-printed medical technologies allow for greater product customization, biocompatibility options, lowered costs, better and faster care, and perhaps most importantly, a much-needed channel to deliver medical components and devices on a level you’ve never seen before. 3D printers in a hospital could create implants, casts, and devices, all on-demand and at a time of need. It doesn’t get any more promising than that.
Emily Newton is the Editor-in-Chief of Revolutionized. She’s always excited to learn how the latest industry trends will improve the world. She has over five years of experience covering stories in the science and tech sectors.
Traditional manufacturing in healthcare and the medical field is a contentious operation because many of the devices, tools, and items not only have stringent limitations—they are being used in and around the human body, after all—but every human is different. The latter means sometimes the equipment needs specific personalization to conform to the body, whether it’s a unique shape, elements, or something else entirely.
At times, this can stretch out the manufacturing process, which is less than ideal when patients need the equipment as soon as possible. It can also lead to more generalized designs, which may or may not be comfortable for use in the body. 3D printing may be the solution the world needs.
3D Printing Medical Devices: What Can Be Made?
The term “medical devices” is rather broad but it’s one of the most common forms of item or product 3D printing can produce in the healthcare field. Some examples include hearing aids, ventilator parts—common during the COVID-19 pandemic—surgical instruments, dental restorations, or even orthopedic and cranial implants.Another emerging solution is bioprinting, which involves producing bio-ready elements on demand. This could include printing organs, living tissue, blood vessels, bone, and much more. Multidisciplinary engineers and researchers have successfully printed vascular tissue that could be used for the kinds of regenerative medicine. Realistically, you may see printed organs and the like within the next decade, maybe even sooner.
What Are the Benefits of 3D Printing Medical Devices?
Being able to print medical devices has a host of benefits. The following are just a few examples of how they could change lives worldwide.Greater Customization Abound
Using 3D printing technologies and printed equipment in the medical field allows for much greater product customization. The parts can now be manufactured to specific dimensions, shapes, and parameters to serve the patients at the end of the equation better. Moreover, because the prints can be distinctive, they can also be tailored to increase efficiency, comfort, and quality of life.But above all, with traditional manufacturing, customization tends to extend the length of the process, so items take longer to design, produce, and deliver. The nature of 3D printing and additive manufacturing means it’s possible to create much faster, even through regular iterations and prototypes.
This is especially pertinent when crafting optimal designs for ultra-small or irregularly shaped cases, like those used in medical devices. Even after a design has been perfected, smaller cases can create many manufacturing headaches with parties such as automation equipment, machine builders, packaging operation managers, operators, and technicians.
3D-printed products can be designed, created, tested, and handed over to healthcare professionals and their patients faster than ever before. As a positive side effect, this essentially means speedier and better care all around.
Lowered Costs Without Sacrifice
When you reduce costs in manufacturing, you’re typically either limiting the products in some way or making concessions to keep the expenses manageable. For instance, switching to a budget manufacturing process might result in lower-quality products with more defects and potential duds. Even changing the materials used can significantly impact the product, depending on how involved the manufacturing solutions are.Malleable metals might be damaged easier during development or in the patient’s hands, or unfamiliar materials might run into other issues, like slower production times, failure points at joints and connections, and much more. It’s easy to see why this cannot happen in the healthcare field, as a minor defect could have a severe impact.
When 3D printing medical devices, lowered costs do not translate to lower-quality items. In fact, this is not the case in additive manufacturing in general. That’s because most printing technologies are already designed from the ground up to work with a variety of materials.
The extruder—or portion of the printer that produces the item—laying polymers and components during the printing process, can be swapped out in most cases, as well. One system might be configured to print plastic types of devices but can easily be reconfigured for light metals or alloys, concrete, or even wood. There’s not much use for wood or concrete in or around the human body, but these examples show how versatile 3D printers are.
Manufacturers can easily swap out materials for lower-cost alternatives without compromising the design. It also helps that 3D printing technologies create items in layers—which is inherently strong—but other strategies can be leveraged to develop more robust prints without ballooning costs. Using stronger materials, increasing the layer wall thickness, increasing infill density, changing the infill pattern, and adjusting flow rates are just a few strengthening examples that can help create a better product.
Iterative Updates
The human body is constantly growing, which can sometimes mean implants or devices used inside the body become either obsolete or lose efficiency or compatibility because of those small changes. Before an item is 3D printed, it’s first designed and created using modeling software, so those models are easily saved and adjusted. This makes it entirely possible for regular iterations or updates to be made to align with changes in the body.Of course, printed tissues and organics wouldn’t apply here. This is more about rigid devices made out of metals, plastics, and other materials. The biggest takeaway is that it’s both cost-effective and convenient to make changes when 3D printing medical devices, or even to create entirely new models if necessary.
3D Printed Medical Devices Are the Future of Healthcare
3D printing and additive manufacturing technologies are poised to revolutionize the medical field, delivering entirely new possibilities while enhancing critical care. Consider those waiting on long lists for potential organ replacements. If those organs can be grown and produced using 3D printing methods and living tissue, patients could get exactly what they need much faster. Humans are not far off from that possibility, either.The reality is 3D-printed medical technologies allow for greater product customization, biocompatibility options, lowered costs, better and faster care, and perhaps most importantly, a much-needed channel to deliver medical components and devices on a level you’ve never seen before. 3D printers in a hospital could create implants, casts, and devices, all on-demand and at a time of need. It doesn’t get any more promising than that.
Emily Newton is the Editor-in-Chief of Revolutionized. She’s always excited to learn how the latest industry trends will improve the world. She has over five years of experience covering stories in the science and tech sectors.