3D printing has been around for 40 years, but it has only been applied in medicine since the early 2000s when it was first used to make dental implants and custom prosthetics. Medicine grows and evolves, and using 3D printing we will be able to achieve results faster, cheaper and more efficiently.
More than 110,000 Canadians are currently waiting for an organ transplant. Every 10 minutes, that number rises. 3D printing may be the solution to the lack of organs; using a computer-guided pipette to layer living cells, bioprinters are able to create artificial living tissue. These tissue constructs can be used for medical research as they mimic organs on a miniature scale. Scientists are working on a way to create a fully working human organ, which would reduce the cost of the transplanting procedures. An issue with organ transplants is that our immune system can’t tell the difference between a lifesaving transplant and a life-threatening bacteria, resulting in 50 percent of all transplanted organs being rejected within 10 to 12 years. During those years, patients need to be on immunosuppressants, which leads to an increased chance of infection. 3D printing would use the patient's own cells to create the new organ, making it a lot safer and eliminating the need for a donor. Furthermore, those who can not receive organ transplants due to religious beliefs will be able to receive a 3D printed organ, as it is created by his or her cells.
Organ formation isn’t the only use of 3D printing, as it can also be used to improve the quality of life for many disabled people. The technology enables people to create objects and services that are easier to use and can be adapted to form personalised wheelchairs, prostheses, orthoses, etc. 3D printing is cheaper than many other manufacturing methods, and lowers the production of waste. This ground-breaking technology is going to change the way we perceive medicine and will save thousands of lives in the process.
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