More and more people are seeing 3D printers making their way into classrooms across the country, whether it’s for a small course on this up and coming technology, or as a resource for teachers to make abstract concepts into tangible visuals. However, what the majority of the population does not realize is that these small devices can— and will— revolutionize the healthcare system. Healthcare professionals in hospitals around the country see this device as a valuable tool, specifically for organ transplants that require new organs, a commodity which clearly has a limited supply that is in high demand. These printers have been used in the healthcare field for printing medical devices—such as hearing aids, and dental crowns and implants—that are made of synthetic inorganic materials, as well as human tissues that can be used to form an organ, which completely revolutionizes the organ transplant system.
Even though these printers have not been around for a long time, people have already had success in printing out real human organs, such as kidneys, during the early stages of this device. Not only do these printers address the limited supply of organs available for transplants, but also target knee replacement surgeries—one of the most common surgeries performed in the United States.
Every patient has a different type of bone, and doctors are generally forced to cut off excess parts of the bone that aren’t necessary, we often see a problem where a surgeon cuts too much of the bone, which can ultimately leave the patient with severe pain as a result. With 3D printers, surgeons will be able to cut up to the optimal part of the bone for patients with custom knees, ultimately eliminating the chance of cutting too much and leaving a patient with severe joint and muscle pain. The increased accuracy and efficiency these printers will bring to this field will result in patients having faster recovery times and more functional knees, completely revolutionizing this surgical procedure.
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