3D Printing Medical Products – Making The Impossible Possible
When it comes to application-specific 3D
printing, the medical industry presents unique challenges and benefits. Few
other areas of manufacturing touch human lives in quite the same way, as the
production of medical products directly impacts the quality of life.
3D printing is increasingly coming into use as
a valid — and, importantly, validated — solution for the production of
medical products. What can be made today, and how are those whose lives could
benefit from these products able to gain access to them?
Immediate-Need
Medical Supplies
3D printed face shields worn by doctors at Hartford Hospital
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 “essential business” during this pandemic, and is working constantly to produce necessary equipment. Read more about Shapeways’ response to and resources for COVID-19 here .
Patient-Specific
Orthoses & Prostheses
3D printed prosthetic arm
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 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 . This PA11 material offers key benefits such as high elongation at break, elasticity, and high impact resistance.
Medical
Devices
3D printed eyewear
Medical devices including eyewear, implants,
hearing aids, and surgical instruments can be 3D printed for prototyping,
modifying, and completely customizing products. Rapid prototyping is speeding
the time-to-market process for new products, as the latest 3D printing
technologies allow for different needs during different parts of the design
process. When speed is of the essence during iterative design, 3D printing can
quickly produce new prototypes to get a hands-on feel for new designs and
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