Customization options alone make 3D printing a natural fit for the medical sector. Now, the medical industry is embracing 3D printing in a number of even more exciting ways. The new approach that the technology provides to design and manufacture is laden with opportunities to improve upon established practices or to make entirely new ones possible. Just thinking of bioprinting a cornea to enable scarless healing of wounds in the eye may seem far-fetched, but it’s only one of the exciting realities of today. The risk of implant rejection by the body is close to being eliminated thanks to stem cells technologies or smart materials designed to dissolve once their scaffolding purpose has run its course. Looking at the horizon, 3D printing is the only feasible solution when it comes to addressing medical emergencies in space: astronauts won’t need to cross their fingers that their highly specialized medical tool came up on the latest rocket carrying supplies, but rather just instructs the in-situ printer to make it on the spot.
3D Printed Cornea Tissue Aims To Tackle Blindness
Pandorum Technologies Pvt., a Bangalore-based biotechnology company, has used 3D bioprinted cornea tissue to promote scarless healing of wounds in the eye. In collaboration with India’s LV Prasad Eye Institute, the company created a bio-inspired corneal ink dubbed as ‘Liquid Cornea’ to 3D bioprint corneal lenticule – a disc-shaped piece of corneal tissue which can also be manufactured with synthetic materials. This is implanted into or on top of the human eye to treat visual impairment due to corneal defect.
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This startup is 3D printing breast implants for cancer survivors
[Lattice Medical] creates 3D-printed breast implants which, unlike common silicone implants, dissolve into the body after a year. But the real magic is that in that time the company has a method for regrowing the natural breast tissue so that patients are ultimately left with natural breasts after just a single operation.
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3D printing medical devices in space
Astronauts face serious health issues, including hand injuries and risk of infection, during long duration space missions far from earth. Chile-based Copper 3D has received funding from NASA to test a new, 3D printing-based approach adapted for the unique space environment.
Keep reading at MedicalDevices Network.
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