When Engineering Meets Medicine : 3D Printed Implants

Imagine an implant CUSTOM MADE for you, mapped to your EXACT anatomy and physiology, which works EXACTLY how your body wants it to work - sounds too good to be true, right?

An invention at the heart of engineering and medicine makes that possible - 3D Printed Surgical Implants.

3D printed implants are customised implants designed to perfectly match a patient's anatomy, resulting in better adaptations and faster recovery times. As advancements in technologies such as imaging, manufacturing, and material recognition increase, these implants are bound to get more common in the medical sector.

The process begins with data collection using imaging technologies such as MRI and CT scans, which produce detailed and specific 3D models of the anatomical data of patients. These models are then further refined using CAD, SolidWorks, and even FEA simulations, allowing advanced details and refinements. These digital inputs are then put into a Selective Laser Melting(SLM) or a Direct Metal Laser Sintering(DMLS) 3D printing machine, and the physical implant is born.

It is pertinent to mention that these implants need to comply with all healthcare regulations, and thus undergo constant sanitation and desterilization, and have to pass multiple checks and meet the relevant safety standards before being used. This may seem exhaustive; however, this is a crucial step to determine safety and minimise the risk of any side effects caused due to the nano characteristics of the materials used.

These implants are extremely beneficial for patients. These implants provide an enhanced fit that results in shorter surgical and recovery windows, and even minimizes tissue trauma. The patients themselves benefit from enhanced comfort, better implant performance and adaptability - leading to faster recovery and reducing the risks of any surgical complications, and even reducing the need for a second surgery by nearly 70%.

In a nutshell, 3D printed implants are revolutionalising modern day healthcare as they perfectly mimic the patient's anatomy and lead to better and faster recovery periods with minimal risks. As advancements in 3D printing are made, this intersection between technology, engineering, and medicine will deliver custom solutions tailored not just to diseases, but to the patients themselves.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

1. https://www.ntop.com/resources/blog/3d-printing-implants-a-complete-guide/
2. https://formlabs.com/eu/blog/3d-printed-surgical-instruments/?srsltid=AfmBOopgDiS668JBzblJGrD_IZFPuxS2yM7-jxu6d2pxmWC1FNR0X9PP
3. https://www.eos.info/industries/medical/implants-surgery
4. https://formlabs.com/eu/3d-printers/?srsltid=AfmBOoqGd-1edZ7nEX1RVk7-wPUQcaUBoP2-RTy8fGfxMKuAMb9DJat1