If you are not already familiar with 3D printing, it’s time to learn about this amazing, emerging technology. While many people have marveled about the ability to “print” a plastic and metal model of real-life items like the Eiffel Tower or even firearms, the truly important application of this technology is taking place in the realm of medicine. It’s not over-stating the case to say that 3D printing could soon be as important a medical breakthrough as the invention of the X-ray or the discovery of penicillin. The implications are huge.

3D Printed Organs? Yes, It Is Happening

About 4,000 people in the United States die each year while waiting on the transplant list for a new kidney. With the advent of the developing technology known as bioprinting, every one of these deaths can – in theory – be prevented one day. A bioprinter, which was first developed in 2009, uses a subject’s own genetic matter to reconstruct biological tissue that can be shaped into transplant-ready kidneys, livers, hearts, and more. Some researchers predict that this technology could be ready to implement widely within a generation.

As it is, the technology already exists to reproduce replacement tissue to form skin, windpipes, bladders and other structures. Bone and cartilage already can be made by using a 3D bioprinter, which “prints” the item layer by layer into a three-dimensional structure. A new organ could one day be used to regulate diabetes (pancreas), or “cure” congestive heart disease, or provide a lifeline in the presence of lung cancer.

Realistic Prosthetics

Imagine losing an arm, a leg, an ear, or any other body part, either through a traumatic accident or illness. One potential application of 3D printing is to reproduce a lifelike prosthetic that will look remarkably like the real thing. So, for the war veteran who suffered an amputated arm or leg, a 3D printed replica of the lost limb will perfectly mirror the existing arm or leg. Furthermore, as the technology develops, it’s not outside the realm of possibility that 3D bioprinting might be able to replicate an entirely new, completely functional arm or leg out of the patient’s genetic material. The same holds true for noses, ears, and other external cartilaginous structures. Also, 3D printed skin could be used as graft material for burn victims.

Other Medical Uses for 3D Printing

If 3D printing sounds to you like science fiction, it’s time to change the way you think about medicine. Medical equipment such as artificial intervertebral discs and even complex dental work already are being “printed” using this technology.

In the realm of spine surgery, an incredible advance in the uses of endoscopic techniques has allowed for the emergence of minimally invasive procedures as a preferable alternative to highly invasive open back surgery. The combination of endoscopic technology and 3D bioprinting is a natural, especially when it comes to disc replacement therapy in the presence of degenerative disc disease or another degenerative spine condition. At the moment, plastic and metal replacement discs can easily be 3D printed for use. Research into the 3D production of actual, cartilaginous intervertebral discs is ongoing and could be available for use within a few years.

Taylor Thomas is an experienced writer who has written for a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, Mr. Thomas is able to offer advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including those pertaining to innovative technologies.

Taylor Thomas is an experienced writer who has written for a number of publications. Mr. Thomas is able to offer advice and insight on innovative medical technologies. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/laser-spine-institute-partners-with-marodyne-medical-to-offer-the-latest-in-low-intensity-vibration-science-2013-02-19

Author Bio: Taylor Thomas is an experienced writer who has written for a number of notable publications. As a lifestyle expert, Mr. Thomas is able to offer advice and insight on a multitude of topics, including those pertaining to innovative technologies.

Category: Computers and Technology
Keywords: Innovative technologies, medical business