If you are reading this, I bet you already know what 3D printing is and what it offers to different industries and aspects of life, as well as different studies and disciplines. To simply put it, 3D Printing is a process for making a physical object from a three-dimensional digital model (or blueprint). 3D Printing enables everyone who has access to it to create prototypes and designs of just about anything, which can lead to faster prototyping and marketing.
Putting 3D Printing in health and medicine creates a wide variety of possibilities. For me, the biggest advantage of 3D Printing is that everything is customizable, so everything can be tailored to a person's exact wants and needs. Currently, 3D Printing can be applied in many aspects when it comes to health, but two things will surely come to mind: medical devices and biological tissues.
Medical Devices
Before, medical devices are mass produced since they are always used and are disposed off quickly. Using 3D Printing, acquiring these devices are now much faster and much easier, with the possibility of wider range of choices and customizations. Another use of 3D Printing is on prosthetics and dental work, which uses the advantage of customization and faster prototyping.
Biological Tissues
Yes, you read it right. Nowadays, it is possibly to actually print artificial human tissue thanks to years of research from scientists all around the globe. If I'm not mistaken, scientists have already successfully printed an artificial human eye and ear, which could be used for transplants. This is the main reason why there are many issues when it comes to 3D Printing in health. Nevertheless, this is still a huge game changer and although it has tons of promises, it is still far out.
OKAY. So, issues. Some of the issues that comes to mind is the issue of intellectual properties and copyright infringements. For me, this isn't really an issue since it can be controlled by not making 3D models available online, or by having a controlling device of some sorts (like permits or only making it available to licensed medical practitioners, IDK). Another issue is on longevity, which can lead to immortality. Let's face it: if every part of the human body can be printed and replaced in the future, then what would happen to the whole concept of "death" itself since parts that are "damaged" or "deteriorated" are replaceable?
Medical Devices
Before, medical devices are mass produced since they are always used and are disposed off quickly. Using 3D Printing, acquiring these devices are now much faster and much easier, with the possibility of wider range of choices and customizations. Another use of 3D Printing is on prosthetics and dental work, which uses the advantage of customization and faster prototyping.
Biological Tissues
Yes, you read it right. Nowadays, it is possibly to actually print artificial human tissue thanks to years of research from scientists all around the globe. If I'm not mistaken, scientists have already successfully printed an artificial human eye and ear, which could be used for transplants. This is the main reason why there are many issues when it comes to 3D Printing in health. Nevertheless, this is still a huge game changer and although it has tons of promises, it is still far out.
OKAY. So, issues. Some of the issues that comes to mind is the issue of intellectual properties and copyright infringements. For me, this isn't really an issue since it can be controlled by not making 3D models available online, or by having a controlling device of some sorts (like permits or only making it available to licensed medical practitioners, IDK). Another issue is on longevity, which can lead to immortality. Let's face it: if every part of the human body can be printed and replaced in the future, then what would happen to the whole concept of "death" itself since parts that are "damaged" or "deteriorated" are replaceable?
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