Jan. 11, 2016 - PRLog -- The evolution of 3D printing is changing the ability doctors have on impacting patients’ lives. It’s moved from being theoretical to a reality as we witness major medical advances because of this technology. The global 3D printing market was estimated to be worth $2,183 million in 2012 and is expected to reach $8,675.7 million by 2020. The healthcare industry is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 14.74% during 2014 through to 2019 due to increasing technological advancements and growing population base.
3D printing is the process of making three dimensional solid objects from a digital file and body parts, as per the recent report. Almost 75% of a patient’s skull was replaced with the help of 3D printers. Some of the most widely used 3D-printed items are dental implants, hearing aids and artificial limb replacements. According to Dr. Nizar Zein, Chair of 3D Printing in Healthcare Conference and Head of Global Patient Services, Cleveland Clinic: “3D printing will change patients’ lives and facilitate previously seemingly challenging surgeries; the ability to provide custom design, patient-specific materials to use in surgical planning is an emerging field especially for high-risk procedures with an anticipated improved safety.”
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the first 3D-printed prescription drug, an epilepsy medicine called Spritam, essentially validating the technology as a new heavyweight player in big pharma. The purpose of drug development should be to increase efficacy and decrease the risk of adverse reactions, a goal that can potentially be achieved through the application of 3D printing to produce personalised medications. However, these advancements are not only in the pharmaceutical industry, but also in organ printing. While an entire organ has yet to be successfully printed for practical surgical use, scientists and researchers have successfully printed kidney cells, sheets of cardiac tissue that beat like a real heart and the foundations of a human liver, among many other organ tissues.
3D printing of medicine, just like any other pharmaceutical technology, has to go through rigorous clinical trials and regulatory procedures. Nevertheless, there is now the first FDA-approved product, mass-produced by 3D printing. It is expected that more clinical trials and products are likely to be announced in the next few years. UAE health centers may adopt the new technology in the next 5-10 years.
The 3D Printing in Healthcare Conference will take place during the upcoming Arab Health Exhibition & Congress taking place from the 25th-28th of January 2015 in Dubai, UAE.
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