Mane Engineering Issue 12 - June 2019 | Page 14

THE RISE OF 3D PRINTING IN HEALTHCARE

3D printing continues to bring huge benefits to the healthcare sector. 3D printing turns a digital 3D drawing into an actual object. The ability to produce complex shapes and structural detail allows for 3D printing to be used for several different healthcare needs.

There are different types of 3D printing technologies available which use different materials which together have made a huge impact on the health sector. These include:

•Pre-operative models – used to guide and help surgeons understand what to do in a procedure

•Implants – such as bone and dental grafts

•Orthotics and prosthetics – additional components for parts of the body that need to behave mechanically, such as limbs

14 | MANE MANUFACTURING & ENGINEERING | JUNE 2019