3D Printing in the Medical Field
In many different fields, technology is changing the way tasks have been done for centuries. Some technologies solve algorithms, some will wash clothes for you, and now a technology that brings changes in the medical field. Known as 3D printers, this technology eliminates many of the fears and mistakes in this field of profession.
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| 3D Printing |
There are five main ways that 3D printing has revolutionized the medical field and eliminated these fears.
The first being the ability to bioprint (printing living things) tissues and organs. This replaces human organ transplants and creates the ability to design organs more personalized to ones' body type. Known as Oraganovo, these printers replace the fear of not being able to get a new organ in time. It also creates a greater sense of security that the organ will work (Meskó).
The second being the ability to prepare for procedures in a more specialized way. These 3D printers present the ability to practice on patient-specific replicas. Minimizing the trauma patients face and speeding up the procedure because the doctors who are working will now know the organ well (Meskó). It also allows the patient to feel calmer because the doctor will better know what they are doing, creating that sense of security.
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| Surgical Instruments |
Next, there are 3D printers that print surgical instruments, which is another way that fear is eliminated in the medical world. These tools are sterile, can be very small/specific to get what they need to get done completed, and they cost significantly less than the ones produced away from the 3D printer (Mashambanhaka). These eliminate the fear that the tools will cause infection, and that they are too big or too imprecise for the task they need to get done. Creating a greater sense of security for the job to be done correctly.
Fourth, these machines create the possibility of having custom-made prosthetics, customized to fit the wearer and their body types. According to Farai Mashambanhaka, this technology creates a quicker recovery process as well as lowers the price. For people who need prosthetics the use of 3D printers the fears of not being able to pay are not all the way eliminated but greatly decreased. Also, the fear that it will take a very long time to learn to use these devices is eliminated because they are more personalized.
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| Prosthetic |
Lastly, the fear that the medicine will not work or is only closely related to your illness is eliminated with the use of 3D printers. The technology creates medicine that is personalized to an illness. In a TED Talk Lee Cronin talks about this new device. He explains that this machine can assemble chemical compounds at a molecular level, which helps it better pertain to the issue the patient is having. This loosens the fear that the medicine won't work on unique cases or to different body types, making it more reliable as well.
Sometimes it is easy to forget the advances that are happening in our everyday lives. As new technologies develop the world begins to change. Things are getting easier, safer, and more secure. With all these special developments it is important to step back and realize what it took to get to that point and we must realize how lucky we are to have these new technologies, like the security and safety the medical 3D printers provide.
Works Cited
3D Printing. Pixabay, cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2018/04/11/19/48/3d-printer-3311587__340.png. Accessed 13 Dec. 2019.
Surgical Instruments. Pixabay, cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/02/11/17/08/cirurgical-instruments-2058089_960_720.jpg. Accessed 13 Dec. 2019.
Mashambanhaka, Farai. "3D Printing in Medicine: The Best Applications in 2019." All3DP, 17 Mar. 2019, all3dp.com/2/3d-printing-in-medicine-the-best-applications/. Accessed 13 Dec. 2019.
Meskó, Bertalan. "12 Things We Can 3D Print in Medicine Right Now." 3D Printing Industry, 26 Feb. 2015, 3dprintingindustry.com/news/12-things-we-can-3d-print-in-medicine-right-now-42867/. Accessed 13 Dec. 2019.
"Print Your Own Medicine." TED Talks, uploaded by Lee Cronin, June 2012, youtu.be/mAEqvn7B2Qg. Accessed 13 Dec. 2019.
Prosthetic. Pixabay, cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2016/03/22/16/20/prostetic-1273183_960_720.jpg. Accessed 13 Dec. 2019.
Are all of these advances in medical technology already happening? Is there data about how effective they are? Any downsides to such technology?
ReplyDeleteMost of these advancements are happening, but on a small scale. There was some data but it was limited. This technology also can replace jobs, but it overall is shown to improve the medical field.
DeleteFor the bioprinted structures is the whole structure (organ) being designed or just a specific tissue of that organ? If the whole organ is being designed than this technology is much more advanced than I had originally thought.
ReplyDeleteIn one of the first blogs about technology its discussed that technology is taking over our jobs, will the advancements in 3d printing take away more jobs then create?
ReplyDelete