3D printing is the process of creating a tangible, solid three-dimensional object or model, by applying multiple thin layers of material in succession.
Of course, there is much more that takes place in between those steps; however, to use a 3D printer today, the average person wouldn't need to know as much as you'd think.
From its first known use dating back to Japan in the 1980s, the speed, capabilities, and range of 3D printing have grown tremendously. Using UV light and photo resin, the first technique was impressive, considering computers were hardly typical. Fast forward to the early 2010s when prices for computers, printers, and electronics dropped drastically. During that time, the rise of the 3D printer began, and it has hardly slowed down since.
Uses of 3D printing in prosthetics
The boom of 3D printers for the healthcare industry brought a great realm of new capabilities. Devices that typically would have to be customized, molded, fabricated, and sometimes even assembled by hand were printed. Users could specify dimensions, curves, cutouts, materials, and more. Custom devices have begun moving from expensive and out of reach to access for millions.
Take prosthetic limbs, for example; according to the Department of Veterans Affairs, a 5-year cost analysis of an upper extremity prosthetic device is as follows:
- Partial hand: $18,703
- Wrist: $19,922
- Transradial: $20,329
- Transhumeral: $59,664
- Shoulder: $61,655
With the availability of 3D printing, the cost drops dramatically. According to TrueLimb, a prosthetic device company, 3D printing their prosthetic arm costs approximately $7,995. The limb advertised at that nearly $8,000 budget is a transradial, which in the VA estimate above averages around $20,000 when fabricated by hand. That is a savings of over 10,000 dollars. Considering the higher cost of overall healthcare spending for individuals with disabilities, an extra 10K in the pocket can significantly impact costs down the road.
Other uses for 3D printing
While 3D printing an arm or leg may be one of the more impressive accomplishments of this technology, there are many other uses in healthcare. For example, in the dental field, 3D printers create molds, aligners, crowns, and dentures right in the office. This decreases users' wait time, reduces cost, and increases accessibility to those unable to travel to numerous appointments.
Additionally, these printers have successfully created millions of hearing aids in audiology. The 3D-printed hearing aids are custom fit to the inner ear of the individual, which hopes to increase comfort and compliance with the devices.
Finally, in optometry, 3D printers are used to create custom lenses on the spot, decreasing the need for extensive inventory while decreasing overproduction and waste.
The future of 3D printing
Thankfully the future of this field looks just as bright as its journey thus far. Over the next few years, we are likely to see 3D printers moving into the home. After all, nothing says we're living in the age of advanced technology like printing a new pair of reading glasses from the comfort of your living room.
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