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Medtech Business Review | Monday, April 03, 2023
The use of 3D-printed surgical guides can also aid surgeons in performing joint replacement, spinal, and other complex surgeries, resulting in increased accuracy and precision during procedures, as well as reduced recovery times.
Fremont, CA: As a result of their unique design, personalized medical devices improve fit, comfort, and outcomes while reducing the risk of complications.
Using three-dimensional data, 3D printing constructs objects layer by layer by joining materials. With this technology, it is possible to construct devices with intricate structures, internal cavities, and unconventional geometries that are impossible to construct using traditional manufacturing methods. Iteratively modifying designs reduce components, weight, and costs to create lightweight, compact medical devices with internal functions that are produced in small batches.
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Several applications of 3D printing in the medical devices space have seen steady growth since 2018, including orthopedics, dental, interbody, surgical, and personalized devices. It is possible to create custom prosthetics and implants using 3D printing, improving their functionality and comfort. The use of 3D-printed surgical guides can also aid surgeons in performing joint replacement, spinal, and other complex surgeries, resulting in increased accuracy and precision during procedures, as well as reduced recovery times.
According to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics firm, the medical 3D printing market will grow by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21% between 2022 and 2026 as customization, lower production costs and quick turnarounds drive growth. A new report from GlobalData, 3D Printing in Medical Devices - Thematic Intelligence, provides more detailed information on the macroeconomic, technological, and regulatory trends shaping the market for medical 3D printing devices.
With 3D printing, complicated parts can be personified, and small batches can be made in small quantities. For rapid prototyping, it is an ideal tool since it provides great design freedom and has little to no additional cost for increasing design complexity. A fraction of the time and cost can be saved by using this method when developing new devices.
Printed 'smart materials' with geometries that are nearly impossible to produce with other methods might also be possible using 3D printing. Medical applications for smart materials include improving current devices with improved properties and performance by responding to environmental stimuli like heat, moisture, and sound. Current research on 'smart' devices includes prosthetic limbs with built-in sensitivity, self-expanding stents, self-healing joint replacements, and drug delivery devices that respond to infections. It is unlikely these devices will ever be commercially produced, but they can still benefit from 3D printing's customizability, small-batch production, low cost, and design flexibility.
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