Table of Contents
1. COVID-19 Masks
During the pandemic, 3D printer professionals, manufacturers and enthusiasts around the world contributed their expertise, time and knowledge to manufacture face shields, masks and other auxiliary equipment to help protect medical staff in the fight against Covid-19. BCN3D used its 3D printing technology to provide important support to hospitals across Spain during the COVID-19 pandemic. They produced masks through 3D printing technology to cope with the shortage of medical protective materials at the time. BCN3D not only focused on the production speed of masks, but also on the functionality and comfort of masks.
Through 3D printing technology, the company can precisely control the shape and size of the masks to ensure that the masks fit tightly to the wearer's face and provide better protection. At the same time, the company continues to optimize the design to improve the breathability and comfort of the masks. As medical staff in Spain face a lack of protective equipment, 3D printed masks have played an important role in reducing their risk of infection.
According to relevant reports, BCN3D has delivered more than 400 3D printed masks to several hospitals in Spain to support their protection needs. This action reflects the practicality and rapid response capabilities of multi-color 3D printing technology in the field of healthcare, especially in global public health crises.
2. Prosthesis
Everyone is unique, and the prosthesis they use should be, too. At the forefront of innovation in healthcare, multi-color 3D printing technology is revolutionizing prosthetic manufacturing.
Multi-color 3D printing technology not only allows the creation of prosthetic components with complex designs and improved aesthetics, providing them with a more convenient and advanced solution, but also allows prosthetic users to choose colors and designs according to their preferences, making prostheses part of their personal style. Whether it is bright colors or complex patterns, 3D printing technology can easily achieve it.
Sara is a Catalan woman who has limited function in her right hand due to congenital disabilities. However, with the help of DomoTek's advanced technology, Sara's life has taken a turn for the better. DomoTek customized a prosthetic hand for Sara using the BCN3D Sigma printer. The dual extruder system of this 3D printer is able to print two colors at the same time, making the prosthetic hand not only functional but also visually personalized. Sara's prosthetic hand uses her favorite color combination, making her feel confident and comfortable when wearing it.
This process not only demonstrates the huge potential of 3D printing technology in the manufacture of personalized medical devices, but also reflects how technology can improve the quality of life of patients.
3. Hearing aids
Did you know that there are more than 10 million 3D printed hearing aids in the world? 3D printing has revolutionized the way hearing aids are manufactured, and it has largely gone unnoticed. Imagine a hearing aid that not only improves hearing, but also serves as a fashion accessory to show personality. This is exactly the new option that 3D printing technology brings to patients.
WS Audiology uses 3D Systems' Figure 4 high-speed 3D printing solution to produce grippers, fixtures and prototypes for hearing aids. Through 3D printing technology, WS Audiology is able to quickly iterate designs, speed up production, and print hundreds of specialized parts, including grippers, jigs, fixtures and prototypes each year, thereby improving the production process and product quality of hearing aids. Through 3D scanning and personalized design, multi-color 3D printing technology makes hearing aids a fashion statement. It is lightweight, comfortable, and more importantly, it makes more patients feel confident.
The application of multi-color 3D printing technology in the medical field is not only a technological breakthrough, but also a deep understanding of the personalized needs of patients. More applications prove that technology can be warm and caring, bringing a more colorful life experience to everyone.
4. Surgical tools
At the same time, a significant advantage of multi-color 3D printing technology is the ability to achieve color coding on surgical tools. For example, red might represent a cutting part, while blue might be used for traction or fixation. This intuitive color distinction enables the surgical team to quickly identify the function of the tool, reduces communication costs during surgery, and improves the fluency and safety of the surgery.
With the advancement of technology, we have reason to believe that future surgeries will be more personalized and precise, bringing more hope to patients.
5. Organ Models
Traditional medical education relies on 2D images and static models, which often fail to provide sufficient depth and detail. However, multi-color 3D printing technology can accurately reproduce organ models with complex internal structures based on the patient's CT or MRI scan data. These models are not only the same as real organs in shape, but also simulate the different tissues and blood vessels of the organs in color, providing doctors with a three-dimensional and operational learning tool. Doctors can use these models for preoperative simulation to better understand the location of the lesion and the relationship between the surrounding structures, so as to develop a more accurate and safe surgical plan.
This personalized surgical planning not only improves the success rate of the operation, but also reduces the risk of postoperative complications for patients. Whether it is to improve surgical accuracy or design personalized medical plans, multi-color 3D printed organ models will play an increasingly important role in medical education and surgical planning.
6. Isolating Breast Cancer Cells
Another innovative use of multicolor 3D printing in healthcare is for research purposes. In this case, scientists at the University of Girona are using it to isolate breast cancer stem cells so they can better study them.
The researchers behind the initiative are working to develop a drug that can successfully attack tumor cells in the body to prevent recurrence without damaging healthy parts of the body. The specific cells they are studying can remain in the body even after chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The research team used multicolor 3D printing to create 3D scaffolds that mimic the natural structures of the human body. These structures then isolate the cells that cause recurrence, allowing researchers to further analyze these cells and develop drugs to attack them.
"Tumors are made up of multiple types of cells that are present in low proportions. Therefore, locating these cells within the tumor is complex. This new system is cleaner and allows us to address these types of cells more directly," said Teresa Puig, head of the Oncology Department of the New Therapeutic Targets Research Group.
Using this new technology, researchers will be able to study cells more deeply to find biomarkers that cause tumors and find treatments.
Conclusion
Multicolor 3D printing technology has broad application prospects in the fields of medicine and healthcare. From COVID-19 masks to customized prostheses, from precision hearing aids to specialized surgical tools, to simulated organ models and cell research, this technology is bringing innovation and change to the medical industry.
