Aside from additive manufactured devices made with thermoplastics, as in prosthetic limbs and orthotic devices, 3D bioprinting (using biological and biofunctional materials) is bringing brand new ideas to the field. That’s where mind-boggling ideas such as 3D-printed organs and prosthetic ears and noses made with the patient’s cells come into play. Outside of direct patient care, surgeons are using 3D-printed joints and organs specific to the patient’s anatomy to prepare for surgery, reducing the time spent performing the surgery, which leads to other efficiencies.
Growth in 3D printing could even lead to reduced healthcare costs. A study found that 3D printing using nonrenewable electricity had a cost savings of 64 percent compared to other manufactured goods. The same study found that printers using solar-powered energy consumed up to 74 percent less energy.2 For hospitals and large healthcare systems especially, that kind of savings won’t be ignored; small businesses should likewise give careful consideration to those potential savings.
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