A surge of customized devices is being developed and marketed by small device companies thanks to the accessibility and affordability of 3D printers.
Patients are starting to anticipate individualized care as healthcare becomes more effective.
The manufacturing technology of 3D printing is not exactly novel,
but it has reached a turning point for applications in the fields of medicine and dentistry.
Historically,
3D printing was out of reach for all but the biggest, best-funded hospitals and gadget makers due to its high cost. However, 3D printers are becoming more widely available and reasonably priced for even the average Joe.
Because medical professionals and device makers may now securely produce new, patient-specific, biocompatible, and sterilizable parts,
additive manufacturing is rapidly expanding in the field of healthcare.
Medical device firms and manufacturers must take into account the technology for the commercialization of end-use parts as 3D printing becomes the technique of choice for an increasing variety of medical applications,
including implants, surgical guides, orthotics, prostheses, and other uses.
Small firms leading 3D Print commercialisation
Small businesses are leading the way in the commercialization of 3D-printed medical items,
such as surgical instruments, inhalers, intelligent prosthetic hands, metabolic analyzer masks, and more. Companies may create new, cutting-edge therapies and gadgets that are inexpensive and personalized to patients by leveraging 3D printing for manufacturing and prototyping.
Coalesce Product Development, a maker of medical devices (recently acquired by Novartis), is using 3D printing to create novel, inexpensive drug delivery devices like inhalers and injectors for generic inhalation products that are significantly more affordable than brand-name alternatives, which can cost over $380 monthly.
Real-world uses of 3D printing outside of the human body are now starting to be seen in the medical device business.
Mychael Overstreet,A veteran, fireman, and paramedic developed Tension Square by using 3D printing.
It keeps a needle decompression catheter firmly in place while preventing destructive kinking,
folding, or dislodgement and avoidable field deaths from pneumothorax or collapsed lungs. Without any formal engineering training, he used 3D printing to test and refine his design.
This allowed him to experiment with a variety of materials to produce a long-lasting,
precise, light, skin-safe, and robust design that is currently being commercialized with SLS 3D printers.
3D Printing Healthcare devices
Although it’s not yet commonplace, using 3D printing to produce commercial healthcare products has become a feasible goal. Companies can use 3D printing design and production to develop innovative medical gadgets and provide precise healthcare across point-of-care facilities.
- Recognizing the proposed device’s biocompatibility and sterilization criteria and reviewing relevant manufacturer documentation
- learning about the standards for quality and compliance, as well as best practices for utilizing additive manufacturing.
- Reviewing available 3D printing materials, print engines (such as FDM, SLS, and SLA), and print materials while keeping in mind the demands of part performance and production system compliance.
