Conor Stewart
Research expert covering health & pharmaceuticals in the UK & Europe
3D printing is the process of creating physical objects layer-by-layer, based on a digital model. Additive manufacturing is also a term used when referring to 3D printing, but technically 3D printing is a technology that comes under the wider umbrella of additive manufacturing. Advancements in 3D printing have also facilitated improvements in the medical sector. 3D-printed objects can be used both for clinical and health research activities. Purposes of 3D printing in healthcare include medical devices, dental elements, patient-specific surgical models, and prostheses. Having 3D printers ‘in-house’ in hospitals and other healthcare establishments would enable care to be dispensed both more personalized and quicker by eliminating delivery times.
Reported benefits in the sector
Several surveys, over different domains, have found multiple benefits in the medical industry for 3D printed objects. These have been stated by healthcare workers who have worked first-hand with the technology, and also in calculations of the time and money that would be saved. A study in the United States concluded that even at a low utilization rate of five percent, the use of 3D-printed anatomic models in orthopedic surgeries could save a hospital over 130 thousand U.S. dollars per year (accounting for a mean cost of surgery per minute). With a utilization rate of 20 percent, the savings per year could increase to over half a million U.S. dollars. Furthermore, a survey of surgeons in 2023 found they were almost unequivocal in their confirmation of the benefits of 3D-printed models. Around 95 percent of surgeons said that the 3D-printed model was a valuable clinical tool for presurgical planning. Over nine in ten expressed that a 3D-printed model was beneficial in aiding communication with patients as well as an educational tool for trainees. Moreover, the main reasons cited in another survey of dentists for using a 3D printer were improved efficiency and reduced costs.Bioprinting
Bioprinting is a much newer technology compared to 3D printing and uses bioinks and other biomaterials to create organ-like structures. Some have referred to bioprinting as ‘healthcare’s next revolution’ with the possible uses encompassing artificial organs, drug development, wound healing, and regenerative medicine. A great deal of excitement and hope has been placed in the potential of bioprinting in the field of artificial organs. The number of patients waiting for organ transplants across the globe vastly outweighs the number of available donors. Therefore, the ability to bioprint organs could help meet this demand and transform the lives of so many people waiting for organs. The market for 3D bioprinting was forecast to increase significantly in the coming years, although there will be challenges the market needs to overcome such as potential ethical and legal issues, as well as the scalability of the technology.
