Brent Wright, Licensed Prosthetist and Orthotist at EastPoint Prosthetics & Orthotics, reviews from Additive Manufacturing Methods (AMS) in New York the place the medical observe delivered tales of 3D printing’s affect on the healthcare sector and emphasised the vital position of schooling in driving higher adoption.
As somebody who makes use of additive manufacturing day by day in healthcare, I used to be significantly within the AMS medical observe. The observe didn’t disappoint. I will start with a narrative shared by Amy Alexander, a Biomedical Engineer from Mayo Clinic.
In 1915, the Mayo brothers, Drs. William and Charles Mayo, recognised that expert makers—craftsmen and engineers—performed a vital position in advancing medication. On the Mayo Clinic, they collaborated with artisans who designed and constructed {custom} medical units and devices, enhancing affected person care by tailoring options to particular challenges. This partnership set a precedent for integrating technical experience into healthcare, a follow that continues to evolve with trendy manufacturing applied sciences.
Alexander specialises in growing point-of-care options utilizing additive manufacturing. Her work focuses on creating 3D printed medical instruments and units that clinicians can use instantly on the bedside or working room. She has additionally helped combine additive manufacturing into hospital workflows, making certain that customised medical options can be found when wanted. Whether or not a surgeon requires a patient-specific anatomical mannequin for preoperative planning or a doctor wants a custom-fitted splint for a trauma affected person, Alexander’s experience in 3D printing on the level of care has streamlined the method.
Her method reduces lead occasions for vital medical units, eliminates reliance on exterior suppliers, and permits healthcare professionals to design and produce patient-specific options on demand. This shift from centralised manufacturing to localised, on-site manufacturing is reworking medical care, making it quicker, extra customized, and cost-effective.
A key issue driving the adoption of additive manufacturing in medication is peer stress and concern of lacking out (FOMO). As hospitals and analysis establishments efficiently integrate medical modelling into their workflows, others observe. Seeing rivals and colleagues obtain higher affected person outcomes by way of 3D printed fashions encourages broader adoption.
Alfred Griffin, CEO of LightForce, shared one other compelling story. In 1946, a dentist pioneered the idea of the clear dental aligner. Whereas clinically sound, his concept lacked a viable manufacturing methodology. And not using a technique to scale, the innovation remained unrealised—till advances in manufacturing, particularly additive manufacturing, enabled the creation of customised aligners at scale. This instance illustrates a recurring problem in medical innovation: having the precise concept however missing the means to carry it to life.
As John Barnes, Founding father of Barnes International Advisors, places it, ”Adapt, overcome, and persevere.” This mindset is crucial for innovators going through technological, monetary, and regulatory hurdles. The flexibility to push by way of challenges has led to groundbreaking functions in medication.
Brigitte de Vet-Veithen, CEO of Materialise, emphasised that schooling and public relations additionally play a vital position. Many healthcare professionals stay unaware of the potential of additive manufacturing, viewing it as a distinct segment instrument. Conferences, trade publications, and coaching packages assist dispel misconceptions by showcasing real-world successes. Tactile demonstration can be a powerful driver of adoption—surgeons and oncologists who maintain and study 3D printed anatomical fashions instantly recognise their worth. Not like imaging strategies, these fashions present a bodily illustration of a affected person’s anatomy, enhancing surgical planning, enhancing communication with sufferers, and lowering uncertainty in advanced procedures.
Regardless of its promise, the adoption of additive manufacturing in medication is usually hindered by monetary constraints. Dr. Jenny Chen, a radiologist and CEO of 3DHEALS, has emphasised funding methods to beat these obstacles, together with collaborative funding fashions the place hospitals, universities, and personal trade share sources. Open-source medical innovation permits researchers and engineers to contribute collectively to new developments, whereas public and nonprofit grants intention to speed up adoption in areas with excessive potential for affected person affect. By working round funding limitations, medical innovators can carry applied sciences to sufferers extra shortly.
Probably the most promising functions of additive manufacturing in medication is medical modelling for surgical planning. Earlier than a posh operation, surgeons can use patient-specific 3D printed fashions to follow procedures and develop exact approaches. These fashions, derived from high-resolution imaging, permit for higher visualisation of anatomical constructions, resulting in shorter working occasions, fewer issues, and improved affected person outcomes.
One other vital software is in most cancers remedy positioning units, significantly in radiation oncology. Rajan Patel and his workforce at Kallisio have developed custom-fitted, 3D printed positioning mouth guards for sufferers present process radiation remedy for head and neck cancers. These units safe the tongue and jaw in an optimum place, making certain radiation is delivered precisely whereas defending wholesome tissue.
For example, a affected person receiving tongue or throat most cancers radiation could use a 3D printed mouthguard designed to place the tongue away from high-dose radiation zones. By stabilising the tongue and sustaining placement, these units assist cut back unintended radiation publicity, decrease unwanted side effects, and enhance remedy outcomes. Not like conventional mouth guards, which frequently require frequent changes, these 3D printed variations are tailor-made to every affected person’s anatomy, making certain a safe and repeatable match all through remedy. This precision enhances each remedy effectiveness and affected person consolation.
Additive manufacturing can be reworking the world of assistive units, a spotlight of Satish Mistra. His work in growing low-cost, customisable 3D printed assistive instruments has expanded entry for people in underserved communities, the place such units would in any other case stay out of attain.
Mistra has emphasised {that a} prosthesis is not only about mobility—it’s about dignity and alternative. A well-fitted prosthesis permits individuals to regain independence, carry out day by day duties, and return to work. One of many challenges in historically fabricated prostheses is value and accessibility. Many sufferers can not afford prostheses, and the becoming course of may be arduous. With 3D printing, prostheses may be produced shortly, extra affordably, and tailor-made to particular person wants—eliminating logistical hurdles equivalent to delivery, taxes, and customs, which may account for as much as one-third of the full value of a tool.
The way forward for medication is being formed by additive manufacturing, because it continues to reinforce surgical planning, most cancers remedy, and prosthetics. The flexibility to create patient-specific options is enhancing outcomes, lowering prices, and increasing entry to care. With AMS offering a platform for leaders to come back collectively and share concepts, I depart inspired that additive manufacturing is not an rising expertise—it’s a instrument actively reworking affected person take care of the higher.
The query is not whether or not additive manufacturing will change medication, however how shortly it may be absolutely embraced. With the precise champions, collaborations, and investments, the way forward for healthcare is being printed—layer by layer.
