3D Printing in 2015
Even though medical care does not seem to be the most evident place for 3D printing applications, 3D printing advances and the medical revolution are saying the opposite.
Here are some of the clear cases:
3D printing in healthcare is growing fast, at the same time that is addressing many important needs that are improving people’s life. For example, production of common medical devices, printing of tools used in medicine such as surgical equipment, revolution in surgery such as recreating lifelike models of organs, and human’s. Besides, “The biggest advantage is that everything is customizable”, said Markus Fromherz, Xerox’s chief innovation officer in healthcare (Doyle, 2013).
In fact, according to 3DPrint.com, “which tracks and reports developments in the field, a 3D printer was recently able to produce an Army-Navy surgical retractor (a common and versatile surgical tool) in about 90 minutes and at a material cost of less than 50 cents. On top of that, the tool was completely sterile and safe for use when it was completed” (Erickson, 2014).
Here are some of the clear cases:
- Printed custom hearing aid earpieces, selling more than one million units in 2011.
- More than 40,000 acetabular hip cups (the socket for hip joint replacements) have been built using 3D printing.
- 121 The dental appliance maker Invisalign produces 50,000 to 60,000 appliances per day using stereolithography printers (Manyika, Chui, Bughin, Dobbs, Bisson, Marrs , 2013).
3D printing in healthcare is growing fast, at the same time that is addressing many important needs that are improving people’s life. For example, production of common medical devices, printing of tools used in medicine such as surgical equipment, revolution in surgery such as recreating lifelike models of organs, and human’s. Besides, “The biggest advantage is that everything is customizable”, said Markus Fromherz, Xerox’s chief innovation officer in healthcare (Doyle, 2013).
In fact, according to 3DPrint.com, “which tracks and reports developments in the field, a 3D printer was recently able to produce an Army-Navy surgical retractor (a common and versatile surgical tool) in about 90 minutes and at a material cost of less than 50 cents. On top of that, the tool was completely sterile and safe for use when it was completed” (Erickson, 2014).
“People perform better when they’re informed better” and “Clarity is power,” (deBronkart, 2015) Dave deBronkart said.
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He is clearly right because when people are knowledgeable about something, they are able to help more. Here is the proof. A man who saves his wife’s sight by 3D printing her tumor http://makezine.com/magazine/hands-on-health-care/
Another proof is a man in England who created a 3D scan of his own kidney to help the surgeons who were operating him.
Surgeons said “ it could speed the procedure by 30 minutes; it makes our job easier going in” (BCB News England, 2015)