From Models to Miracles: The Transformative Power of 3D Printing
3D Printing is Changing Surgical Preparation and Patient Outcomes
3D printing can allow for functionality where there is none.
My Introduction to 3D Printers
A few years ago, I worked for a company in the healthcare marketplace. One of my responsibilities was to plan and execute trade shows. The biggest trade show we exhibited at each year was the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA).
Another one of my responsibilities was generating foot traffic at the exhibit booth. I developed a contest drawing that included three different technology products (a 3D printer, a drone, and a GoPro camera) to give away at the end of the conference, and I used email as the channel to promote the contest.
3D Printers Can Change Lives for the Better
I began to read articles about 3D printing and its impact on medicine and health. I became more interested in these devices and their practical applications in medical technology. 3D printers use software to produce custom models of orthotics, dental implants, and even pharmaceuticals in the form of drugs. These printed devices can improve the daily lives of individuals and even improve self-esteem.
Imagine losing your front teeth due to an accident and how that could impact your self-image and the perception of others. 3D printers are used in many dental offices, and models can be made the same day.
The FDA and 3D Printing
According to The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the process of 3D printing is a "type of additive manufacturing," which can be used interchangeably with 3D printing. The process of 3D printing creates layers from raw material into a three-dimensional object. Designers can make changes based and anatomy and provide the right fit for each unique patient.
The FDA's role in 3D printing is to guide two different areas.
- The first is Design and Manufacturing Conditions. This includes technical considerations and Quality System requirements for a device based on its regulatory classification for manufacturing.
- The second is Device Testing Considerations. This area deals with premarket notification submissions, humanitarian device exemptions, and investigational device exemptions.
Due to time constraints, patient matching, and medical incidents, submitting every 3D model for approval by the FDA would be impossible. However, the FDA does provide specifications for minimum and maximum wall thickness, as well as the sharpness of a curve, to ensure device performance based on the proposed use.
3D is Better Than 2D
The historical use of 2D technology in pre-surgical planning will eventually be replaced by 3D models. The 2D imagery from MRI and CT images do not provide enough patient-specific detail to identify unusual physiologies. Daniel Crawford, Founder of formlabs has one goal, and that is "to provide the healthcare sector with custom medical models that improve the experience of both doctors and patients." A full-scale anatomical model can give physicians and surgeons never-before-seen insights into the immediate needs of their patients. The insights can lead to a more accurate diagnosis, and may even change the type of medical treatment.
3D can improve surgical outcomes
Pre-surgical 3D Planning Saves Time and Reduces Operational Errors
Pre-operative planning gives surgeons time to map out the surgery and order the exact tools they will need for the procedure. Access to 3D models allows surgeons to try new techniques before they touch the patient. This pre-surgical run-through can reduce the amount of time a patient is under anesthesia and may even reduce the amount of time they spend in physical therapy.
According to a white paper by Stratasys and Quorum, 3D models of patient anatomy have three applications.
- Plan: 3D models allow clinicians to become familiar with unique anatomies, which may reduce operating time and costs.
- Practice: The use of 3D patient-specific models allowed clinicians to refine precise surgical techniques.
- Determine: Access to patient-specific models is valuable in complex procedures because it allows for an appropriate intervention strategy.
Patient-Specific Anatomy
Every human has unique characteristics and 3D models allow doctors pre-surgical practice on the model, before they operate on the patient.
Creating Patient Specific Surgical Tools to Map Out a Surgery
Models created by 3D printers have already proven beneficial to hospitals, physicians, and patients. In the case of a planned surgery, noninvasive images of a patient's anatomy are taken using scans from a CT or MRI and converted by software into a 3D image. The 3D-printed model makes patient-specific medical devices because "one size does not fit all."
Dr. Adnan H. Siddiqui, M.D. is Chief Medical Officer at Jacobs Institute and Director of Neurosurgical Stroke Services for Kaleida Health. Dr. Siddiqui uses 3D technology for complex, elective surgeries. The 3D-printed model allows this vascular surgeon to perform what he calls a dry-run procedure.
The benefit of the dry run is that he can determine the best way to perform surgery and minimize the risk of complications. This process also reduces the time spent in the surgical suite, saving money for the hospital and the patient.
The Precision of Robotic-Assisted Surgery
Robotic surgery is typically used through tiny incisions and is considered to be minimally invasive. This type of surgery reduces the healing time and causes less trauma and scarring.
Miniature surgical instruments are mounted on robotic arms which allow the surgeon to operate with precision while looking through a high-definition monitor. The surgeon guides the miniature instruments with his fingers, and each movement is exactly replicated by the robot.
Precision models of a patient's anatomy allow a physician to show a patient exactly what they are trying to repair or replace with surgery. Physicians at Nuada Medical, in London, use 3D images to explain the diagnosis and treatment options to their cancer patients. These models have also assisted with robot-assisted surgery.
Poll Question
3D Printing Saves Time and Money
Cosmetic dentistry and 3D printing.
3D Printing and Cosmetic Dentistry
In 2016, I had my first experience with a 3D-printed porcelain crown. I had developed a small cavity under an existing crown, and the dentist recommended that the crown be replaced because of the gap in the tooth. My experience with having a crown produced was time-intensive, stressful, and expensive.
The process began with creating an impression of my tooth. The impression was then shipped to a specialty lab that would produce a new crown. If the lab was local, they would call me to schedule an appointment so that I could compare porcelain color swatches to my teeth. The selected color swatch would match the surrounding teeth. When the new crown was completed, it would be shipped back to the dentist and require a follow-up visit to install it.
During this particular visit, I discovered that the dentist actually had a 3D printer on-site and could make the new crown in less than an hour. Implanting the crown went very smoothly, and there were no problems. However, additional work was required to ensure the new crown aligned with my other teeth. The upper and lower bite was initially off, but the dentist was able to correct the fit.
One of the benefits of the on-site 3D printer was that it saved me money by not requiring an expensive lab to manufacture my porcelain crown. It also saved me time by not requiring a follow-up visit.
Functional Prosthetics
The Future of 3D Printing and Healthcare
Advances in 3D printing may become the greatest accomplishment of the 21st century. A process called Tissue Engineering may soon lead to the development of human tissue in the form of tissue and organs. This is also called 3D bioprinting and has already been successfully used in vascular grafts, tracheal splints, skin, and bone.
The goal of 3D printing in medicine is to save and improve lives. Imagine if burn victims could heal months faster from imprinted tissue. Imagine millions worldwide who could benefit from inexpensive yet fully custom prosthetics. Perhaps someday soon, the long wait for people on a transplant list to receive hearts, livers, eyes, kidneys, and other organs from organ donors will be replaced by 3D-printed organs.
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
© 2017 Michelle Orelup
Comments
Michelle Orelup (author) from Milwaukee, WI on March 17, 2017:
High school classes have changed A LOT since I graduated. I believe that 3D printed prosthetics will change the world for millions of people. I'm not sure about Invisalign braces, but maybe they are created with 3D. Thanks!
Elaina Baker from USA on March 17, 2017:
Your experience with the crown was interesting and made me wonder how the Invisalign see through "braces" are made (3D printers?). My daughter is a high school student in a special engineering program and has made a prosthetic hand. It was fascinating to watch the project evolve. It will help Cambodian land mine amputees.
