Increased Investment And Commercial Support To Boost Adoption Of 3d Printing In Healthcare

3D printing or additive manufacturing has grabbed attention in the healthcare sector owing to its potential to enhance treatment for certain medical conditions. From creating a replica of a patient’s spine to creating a replica of a broken tooth, the opportunities for 3D printing in healthcare are limitless.

According to Allied Market Research, the 3D printing healthcare market is projected to garner $3.69 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 18.2% from 2019 to 2026. Technological advancements in 3D printing and augmented R&D investments drive the growth of the market.

Healthcare sector already primed for 3D printing technology:

3D printing gained its popularity in the medical industry owing to the innovative and fast-moving nature of the field. The increasing adoption of precision and personalized medicine and the rise in patient-specific medical applications have fueled the incorporation of 3D printing in healthcare.

Imaging processes and detailed processes are a vital part of the medical industry. For years, doctors and healthcare professionals have been using CT scanners and MRI imaging to get cross-sectional images of tissues and bones. Today, thanks to novel software and advancements in 3D printers, these medical images can be turned into complete models and used for 3D printing. Moreover, medical devices that were purely theoretical can now be produced cheaply, quickly, and effectively. What’s more, they always fit perfectly as they are the exact replica of the patient’s damaged organ.

Owing to the individualized nature of healthcare, 3D printing is a perfect solution. 3D printing offers the easiest way to produce identical parts on a larger scale, promoting the use of orthotic or prosthetic devices. Manufacturing medical devices could be a long and costly endeavor. However, 3D printing in healthcare offers engineers and designers a way to rapidly develop and iterate designs.

Rapid developments to support 3D printing in healthcare:

Witnessing the demand for personalized medicine and medical devices, several governments of various countries and private organizations have invested in developing 3D printing laboratories. For instance, a collaborative project established by a Canadian-based industrial research center, CRIQ, and university hospital center has launched the 3D anatomical reconstruction laboratory. This laboratory is said to be the only facility of its kind in Canada as it is equipped with the required expertise for the production of patient-specific implantable prostheses, including additive manufacturing.  

Veterans Health Administration, America’s one of the prominent integrated health care systems, recently developed an in-house 3D printing system. Moreover, the company has installed a quality management system such as documentation, training for the medical device manufacturers, and various manufacturing processes. This initiative of VHA would enable engineers to use 3D systems to design medical devices and move through FDA clearance.

Such increasing investment proves that the future of 3D printing in healthcare is brighter than ever. From offering patients new prosthetics and organs to help students practice new treatments and procedures and increasing success rate of complicated medical procedures, 3D printing has offered limitless opportunities.

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