3D Printed Organs - A New Solution in Healthcare Industry

With an emergence of 3D printing technology, its demand is rising in healthcare industry. It helps surgeons to plan surgeries, reduce operative & infection risks, and decrease the time of anesthesia exposure. The duration of stay in hospital is reduced and faster recovery is possible. The success rate of complicated surgeries is increased with the help of 3D printing. Furthermore, 3D printing also helps in preclinical drug testing as an alternative to animal testing. 3D printing has become a cost-effective solution in healthcare industry, as prices have dropped with advancements in technology. 

 

In recent developments, 3D printed skin has been developed by experts for burn victims and airway splints for babies with tracheobronchomalacia. This disorder makes tiny airways around lungs. Skin implant had been tested on children between ages of three months to 16 months. The tests were successful and it was possible to produce splints in matter of hours. 3D bioprinting is useful in treatment of eye cancer to make facial prostheses using facial scanning software and 3D printing. 

 

In other areas of research, Princeton University scientists have created bionic air using 3D printing tools. It can hear radio frequencies that a normal human ear cannot. This bionic ear was not only a replica of human ear but also extended capabilities of human ear. According to an article published by the researchers in ACS Publications, “[The field of cybernetics] has the potential to generate customized replacement parts for the human body, or even create organs containing capabilities beyond what human biology ordinarily provides.” There are possibilities for 3D printed livers, lungs, and kidneys to eliminate the need for donations.

 

BioDigital, a biomedical visualization start-up from New York is focused on enhancing the understanding of human body and healthcare with the help of 3D technology. In 2013, BioDigital started creating a human body cloud platform to help people learn about health and anatomy in a visual 3D environment. In order to accurately represent the human body in digital format, BioDigital used scan data and Autodesk software to record over 7,000 anatomy objects and health condition models to be represented in a 3D environment. An optimization process takes place in its platform to run those models in real-time on the cellphones to desktops and browsers. This platform will help patients to understand anatomy while implanting organs using 3D printing technology. 

 

Stratasys Ltd., the leading 3D printing and additive manufacturing solutions company, participated in the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) 2016 Conference & Exhibition. This year marked the first occasion for a 3D printing company to participate in the annual conference. Michael Gaisford, Director of Marketing of Medical Solutions at Stratasys said, “The hospital environment is a natural fit with 3D printing’s versatility, enhancing education, delivering efficiencies, enabling innovation, and supporting research. With a single Stratasys 3D printer, a hospital can create patient-specific models for education and presentation, clinically relevant anatomical replicas for better training, rapid prototypes of physician innovation and custom tools that aid in research.” The HIMSS conference & exhibition is the largest health IT education and exhibit center of the healthcare industry that features new technologies which shape delivery of healthcare. Technological innovations in 3D printing technology for organ implantation provide efficient and cost-effective solutions.

 

Analysts studying the 3D printing healthcare market have presented thorough information about changing market dynamics in research reports. Recently, Allied Market Research has published a report titled, “World 3D Printing Healthcare Market - Opportunities and Forecasts, 2014 - 2020.” As per the report, the world 3D printing healthcare market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 26.2% from 2015 to 2020 and expected to reach $2,363.8 million by 2020. The report provides a comprehensive analysis of detailed segmentation, drivers & opportunities, and competitive intelligence. Furthermore, the research discusses SWOT analysis of key manufacturers, recent developments in technology, and value chain analysis.

 

Related Post