One of the numerous ways that technology has helped the field of medicine is through 3D-printed prosthetics. People with physical disabilities, kids, the entertainment industry, and many other areas have benefited from 3D printing in prosthetics. Printing human organs and drugs are just two examples of the innovations in the realm of medicine that have been made possible by 3D printing, but prosthetic limbs have possibly been the most commercially successful so far.
What Are 3D Printed Prosthetics?
A prosthesis is an artificial device that substitutes a missing body part. This missing body part may have been lost due to an accident, illness, or congenital disability. Prosthetics are a perfect application for 3D printing since they are frequently constructed of plastic and need to be customized for each patient. Although 2D graphics are helpful, they don’t reflect a real human part and offer little imagery. On the other hand, 3D printing produces replicas that resemble and appear like real human body parts.
They are highly tailored and made via medical 3D printing. Affordable 3D printed prosthetics are now feasible thanks to 3D printing, which represents a tiny revolution in the medical field.
Changing Lives
In addition to being cost-effective for even developing nations, 3D printers enable anyone to create and print unique parts with the use of some simple equipment. This facilitates the creation of prosthetics that are individually fitted. Today, artificial limbs made using 3D printing can be tailored to any degree of amputation or be task-specific, allowing for various prosthetics for work, sports, and other activities. High resistance, durability, and quick development and manufacturing are additional benefits. Prosthetic devices are intended to emulate the functions of a missing human limb as closely as feasible, changing millions of lives. Prosthetic devices have affected millions of people’s lives and aim to precisely replicate the functions of a missing human limb.
3D Printed Prosthetics—The Modern Day Solution
A 3D scanner can complete all complex work in just 15 minutes, and the resulting scan may be sent across the world to be 3D printed or analyzed in seconds rather than taking a technician a week to custom-tailor a prosthetic. Additionally, 3D-printed prosthetics are now easily affordable and come in a variety of hues, including those that may be customized to the patient’s skin tone.
Once the prosthetic’s 3D design has been customized, the STL files can be kept indefinitely. This implies that you can go back to the file and scale it up for them if you fit a five-year-old with a 3D printed arm prosthetic and he outgrows it. In a real sense, 3D printed prosthetics develop with you. This makes children’s 3D-printed prosthetics the ideal solution.
Benefits of 3D Printed Prosthetics
1) Innovation
Be creative without being constrained by current manufacturing methods. Rapid prototyping has never been so simple, thanks to 3D printers. Use this technology to iterate your ideas and projects more quickly. Great future improvements will be made possible by going beyond conventional prosthesis manufacture.
2) Personalization
The most crucial argument, in this case, is the one about customization. By receiving adaptive equipment and prosthetics, the patients will benefit and have a better quality of life in the event of limb loss. Thanks to 3D printers, it is now possible to create customizable functional prostheses.
3) Affordability
The majority of kids consider it normal to hold a pen or swing a tennis bat. That simple action could seem like a giant leap for kids with congenital impairments who are missing a hand or several fingers. Many families are left without options since traditional prosthetic limbs are pricey and quickly outgrow their bodies.
It is undeniable that, thanks to the advancement of 3D printing in prosthetics, even the most ordinary person can now undergo a prosthetic operation. Those who needed the services would be concerned about the cost because the old form of prosthesis surgery was pricey. With the advent of 3D printing, a less expensive option exists. The CAD designs are relatively simple to change, and 3D printing is a very affordable production method.
Any traditional prosthetic has a lifespan of roughly five years. Children require prosthetics considerably more frequently due to their rapid growth. This will be extremely expensive for the families and will significantly strain them. Children’s prosthetic devices may now be produced more easily and more affordably thanks to 3D printing. Thus, getting prosthetics for your children is no longer a complex chore.
4) Comfort
Another crucial element that must be taken into account in this situation is comfort. The wearers of standard prosthetics do not find them to be the most comfortable. A majority of amputees have expressed discomfort when using conventional prosthetic limbs. On the other hand, 3D printing assists in delivering the ideal solution by utilizing CAD services as well as the wearer’s anatomical data. The designers can develop a socket specifically for the prosthetic that will fit precisely. Using multi-material 3D printing techniques also makes prosthetics more comfortable. This aids in the creation of more organic sockets that better meld with the human body.
5) Speed
When addressing the use of 3D printing in prosthetics, speed is another crucial element that must be taken into account. Compared to conventional methods, prosthetics can be produced quickly using 3D printing. The production of conventional prosthetics takes weeks or even months. Therefore, those who want prosthetic surgery would have to wait patiently for their number to be called on the waiting list. Thanks to the development of 3D printing, this has changed.
3D Printed Prosthetics: The Future
Given the benefits outlined above, it is impossible to deny that 3D printing has taken a significant role in the prosthetics sector. The best part about this is that technology isn’t static. It is constantly changing as new discoveries are made and the current techniques are enhanced by cutting-edge ones. What can we anticipate in terms of 3D-printed prosthetics in the future?
1) New Technologies
Bionic propulsion systems, computers that anticipate the user’s actions, and other advances are giving traditional prosthetics a modern look. These innovative technologies will eventually find their way into 3D printed prosthetics, giving patients access to these advancements and allowing them to experience better mobility and more control over their lives.
2) More Personalized Designs
Prosthetics created via 3D printing are not at all hideous. In fact, many modern items may be found in a variety of tones that appeal to children, and some can even be customized to the wearer’s skin tone, which frequently appeals to adults.
However, it is true that technological advancements will make prosthetics even more aesthetically pleasing. In order to avoid making the users stand out from the crowd and feel self-conscious, they might be manufactured to look exactly like actual limbs. Additionally, they can be embellished with creative patterns, and accident victims can recover by using a prosthesis that contains rich artwork.
Final Words
The quality of life for individuals will continue to improve thanks to 3D printing applications in medicine. It is certain that 3D printers will ultimately play a crucial role in a majority of medical procedures in the future.
Customized prosthesis designs are already being developed for 3D printing. It might become standard in the upcoming years. While pre-made patterns are fantastic, the opportunity to make unique items opens up a whole new world of possibilities.
Fit Prosthetics
We are revolutionizing the way prosthetics are made at FitProsthetics near Salt Lake City, Utah! By providing the highest caliber of prosthetic care, we first restore and enhance patients’ mobility while assisting them in achieving their objectives. We are committed to your success, and we will offer you comprehensive, seamless service that helps with every aspect of your recovery.
Contact our office to make an appointment by phone or text, and we’ll schedule a time that works best for you. If you need immediate assistance, please call us at (801) 912-0500.