In recent years, additive manufacturing technology has attracted more and more attention in the field of implant manufacturing. In theory, every treatment should be personalized, but the fact is most orthopedic surgeries still use standardized implants.
When do we need to adopt 3D-printed personalized implants?
3D-printed personalized implants are mainly used when it cannot be solved by traditional technologies for high-end medical needs. For example, in bone tumor repair surgery, personalized 3D printed implants can meet the needs that cannot be met by traditional technologies. As a new technology, 3D printed personalized implants will coexist with traditional technologies for a long time, and gradually replace traditional technologies after long-term accumulation and summary on the basis of urgent cases.
Why do we need to introduce biological concepts into manufacturing?
The biological structures created by nature are ingenious and complex. How can people "copy" these works of nature into industrial manufacturing? Intelligent design and 3D printing technology provide us with a shortcut to create bionic structures.
In recent ten years, the combination of metal lattice structure and additive manufacturing technology has attracted more and more attention. Further understanding of the relationships between modeling, optimization, materials, process parameters, structure and properties is needed to ensure the reliability of metal lattice structures prepared by additive manufacturing techniques in various industries.
Due to the possibility of using functionally graded perforated porous metals to produce orthopedic implants, metal 3D printing is applied to manufacture orthopedic implants with the main purpose of mimicking the complex structure of bone in order to increase the bone integration of implants. The main advantages of porous materials are to reduce elastic modulus mismatches between bone and implant alloys, reduce stress shielding and improve implant morphology.
The Future of 3D Printing in Personalized Implants
3D printing is expected to hold a fundamental position in the future of implants and healthcare. Besides enabling personalized care through customized implants, it will also create dental products cheaper and faster.
All in all, the future of personalized implants in healthcare industry will look very different from it of today, and 3D printing will keep pushing this transformation.
