The Future Of 3D Printing In The Medical Industry

3D printing has the potential to revolutionize the way we make almost everything. 3D printing was invented in the mid 1980s and was initially known as additive manufacturing. It consists of the fabrication of products through the use of printers which either employ lasers to burn materials (sintering) or place layer upon layer of material (known as stereolithography), eventually resulting in a finished item. Unlike the traditional manufacturing process, which involves milling, drilling, grinding or forging molded items to make the final product, 3D printing “forms” the product layer by layer. There are many different technological variants but almost every existing, 3D printing machine functions in a similar way: a 3D computer-aided engineering

The use of 3D printing in the medical sector is rapidly gaining momentum; for example, it provides a fast and cost-efficient means of fabricating medical implants with customized design. The acceptance of 3D printing is based on custom products that are made to order, such as dental and medical devices, and low-turnover replacements parts. These goods are typically ordered in unique configurations and in very small quantities. 3D printing is also finding growing applications in dentistry where it is being used to produce customized crowns, implants and bridges. In addition, there are a growing number of applications for 3D printing in surgery. For example, in June 2011, the first titanium 3D-printed jaw was successfully implanted in an 83-year-old woman by Dr. Jules Poukens of Hasselt University. It implants perfectly match a patient’s body and provide better fixation, which can reduce surgery time and infection. Most importantly, the ability to produce custom implants eliminates the need for time-consuming adjustments during surgery and reduces operating costs as well as the risk of medical complications in the

The all-encompassing costs related to the item as a whole include: production, transportation, storage (warehouse costs, heating, cooling, manning), management, and potential disposal. With all of these variables in mind it is very difficult to break down costs on a per-unit level, but is the only quantifiable method of demonstrating the technology's fiscal superiority. When assessing the viability and cost effectiveness of 3D printing supported supply chains, many of these high total-ownership costs can be reduced. 3D printing presents the potential of local manufacturing that will reduce lead-times and transportation costs. Efforts to promote standardization of subparts can be avoided because objects can be digitally altered before printing, to meet individual product line and consumer specifications, at minimal cost to the producer. When the per-unit cost is no longer a factor, we can move to a system of on-demand manufacturing where production accurately reflects consumer demand. On-demand manufacturing also reduces the need for warehousing, as manufacturers will be able to shift from storing end goods to raw materials and have substantially more flexibility in production, as one raw material provides access to numerous end goods. The increased capability provided by 3D printing will significantly reduce the