{"id":40316,"date":"2020-04-30T16:52:13","date_gmt":"2020-04-30T20:52:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/?p=40316"},"modified":"2020-04-30T16:56:29","modified_gmt":"2020-04-30T20:56:29","slug":"3d-printing-medical-products-making-the-impossible-possible-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/3d-printing-medical-products-making-the-impossible-possible-2","title":{"rendered":"3D Printing Medical Products – Making The Impossible Possible"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When it comes to application-specific 3D\nprinting, the medical industry presents unique challenges and benefits. Few\nother areas of manufacturing touch human lives in quite the same way, as the\nproduction of medical products directly impacts the quality of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3D printing is increasingly coming into use as\na valid — and, importantly, validated — solution for the production of\nmedical products. What can be made today, and how are those whose lives could\nbenefit from these products able to gain access to them?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Immediate-Need\nMedical Supplies<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
3D printed face shields worn by doctors at Hartford Hospital<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

One of the most critical 3D printing applications of the moment is the production of urgently needed medical supplies including personal protective equipment (PPE). Supply shortages are impacting medical personnel on the front lines of the fight against the spread of novel coronavirus as COVID-19 cases pick up around the world. 3D printing is proving its value in immediate-need PPE such as face shields, able to provide a stop-gap solution as traditional supply chains pick up. Shapeways is among the manufacturing agencies qualifying as an \u201cessential business\u201d during this pandemic, and is working constantly<\/a> to produce necessary equipment. Read more about Shapeways\u2019 response to and resources for COVID-19 here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patient-Specific\nOrthoses & Prostheses<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
3D printed prosthetic arm<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Products that assist in individual mobility are much more effective when they are made for that individual. 3D printing offers the ability for manufacturers to create orthoses and prostheses that are fully personalized to fit not only the needs, but the exact anatomy of each individual. Braces, orthotics, and prosthetic limbs<\/a> can all be 3D printed in durable materials to perform in real-world day-to-day life. When created through a trustworthy supplier, such devices will have been optimized with functional integration and tested in simulations and mechanical methods. Shapeways, for example, offers a market-ready solution for these uses made using EOS 3D printing technology with Nylon PA11 material<\/a>. This PA11 material offers key benefits such as high elongation at break, elasticity, and high impact resistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Medical\nDevices<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
3D printed eyewear<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Medical devices including eyewear, implants,\nhearing aids, and surgical instruments can be 3D printed for prototyping,\nmodifying, and completely customizing products. Rapid prototyping is speeding\nthe time-to-market process for new products, as the latest 3D printing\ntechnologies allow for different needs during different parts of the design\nprocess. When speed is of the essence during iterative design, 3D printing can\nquickly produce new prototypes to get a hands-on feel for new designs and\nmeasurements. Later in the design process, realistic full-color 3D printing can\nproduce parts that look just like the final product will. These medical devices\ncan also be modified to suit individual or rising needs, or fully customize\nparts for an individual. Hearing aids, for example, are nearly all 3D printed\nthese days, as these small devices can be made to exactly fit the wearer\u2019s\nunique ear anatomy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Surgical\nTools & Guides<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

3D printed surgical tools and guides can be made using sterilizable materials for use directly in the operating theatre. Surgical guides can be fully personalized to fit the exact anatomy of a patient, showing surgeons exactly where to focus during an operation, saving precious time and increasing accuracy during procedures. Advances in materials science have enabled the 3D printing of tools that can be fully sterilized and safe for human contact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Educational,\nTraining, & Surgical Planning Models<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

3D printed models aren\u2019t just for show, as medical professionals can produce patient-specific anatomies for hands-on understanding. The human mind thinks best in three dimensions, and holding an exact replica of anatomy can help a patient understand exactly what will happen during a medical procedure. Surgeons and other medical professionals can use such models to practice ahead of complex procedures, reducing time needed in the operating room and so saving the patient procedure time — encouraging faster recovery — as well as reducing the expense of running an OR. New doctors can also train in new procedures using 3D printed models that look and feel just like the real thing. Full-color, multi-material 3D printing such as with the Stratasys J750<\/a> 3D printer can produce results that are astonishingly close to real life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Medical\nModels<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Multi-color models created by
Biologic Models<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

3D printing can also scale up structures for\nhands-on understanding. 3D printed small molecules; proteins, macromolecules,\nand viruses; and bacteria, cells, tissues, and other organisms can be created\nfrom digital files for scaled-up, hands-on learning and training that could not\nbe achieved on a screen. Students of many ages, from grade school to medical\nstudent and beyond, can gain better understanding of the world around us — and\nthe pieces that comprise it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bioprinting<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps the pinnacle of medical 3D printing is\nbioprinting. In this application, living cells and tissues are 3D printed to\ncreate new structures capable of life. Often created with cellular scaffolds,\ntissues of organs such as the skin, liver, and kidney have been successfully 3D\nprinted for research, drug and cosmetic testing, and even early transplant\nefforts. The ultimate — and still years-ahead — goal for bioprinting is to\nprovide lab-made organs for people waiting on the organ transplant list,\nhelping to save lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Offering end-to-end 3D printing manufacturing and fulfillment services to 130 countries, Shapeways offers a base to start the medical 3D printing journey. Find out more about Shapeways\u2019 medical 3D printing offerings here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When it comes to application-specific 3D printing, the medical industry presents unique challenges and benefits. Few other areas of manufacturing…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":160,"featured_media":40202,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[510],"tags":[2508,1153,2050],"class_list":["post-40316","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-3d-printing-industry","tag-3d-printing-medical-applications","tag-medical-3d-printing","tag-medical-device"],"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.shapeways.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/031020_Medical_7.jpg","yoast_head":"\n3D Printing Medical Products - Making The Impossible Possible - Shapeways Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"When it comes to application-specific 3D printing, the medical industry presents unique challenges and benefits. 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