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Haley Bryant
Mrs. Crist
English IV
6 October 2016

3D Printing in the Medical Industry

Imagine that you are in an emergency room and are about to have an artificial limb built
by a medical 3D printer put into you. How would you feel? 3D printing is one of the most
advanced technologies in the medical industry. It is evolving and becoming a surgical aid and a
major technology in the medical industry. The world is a big place and it changes daily, but it is
one of the main reason that it changes the medical industry. The medical industry is a huge place
with a lot of opportunities and being apart of a 3D printing trial is something that will advance
even more than it already is as time goes on. As 3D printing keeps evolving in the twenty-first
century it is changing the way that doctors use technology in the medical field for the patients
health care.
First of all, 3D printing is almost like a personalized medicine for the patient, even
though it is very expensive it is an advanced technology in the medical industry. For example,
3D printing shows a strong growth: annual sales currently run about $5 billion; that number is
expected to hit $20 billion within the next five years (Gobble). 3D printing is expanding in
many ways, but it also is a good fortune for the economy. People fear that it will not succeed
because of its cost. According to research, Analysts believe these companies and their
competitors lack what established 2D printer manufacturers have in spades: distribution
channels, massive sales organizations, and strong corporate relations (Gobble). If the companies
who can build medical 3D printers can work on these issues they will exceed to be one of the
most used technologies in the medical industry. Gobbles research says, 3D printer
manufacturers have tried to expand into new markets by developing simpler machines

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(Gobble). Manufacturers are trying to expand throughout the medical market by making
machines that are more simpler to use, they are less complex.
Furthermore, using 3D printing as a surgical aid is a brave and unique use for it. It makes
the medicine become more personal and customized for the patient. For example, Medicalgrade printers are expensive, some costing upward $200,000, but one printer can make an
infinite number of objects customized to each individuals anatomy and the cost of printers is
starting to come down (Lewis). 3D printing has been around for a while but now it is just now
on the rise as a new surgical aid. According to Lewiss article, Chuck Hull, patented the first 3D printer in the 1986. Though 3D systems would not disclose its costs, the plastics in each of the
Sterns surgical guides retails for just a few dollars (Lewis). When the patient need something
printed by a 3D printer the doctor can make it custom fit to the patient and get better results now
due to new improvements. A few years ago, there were only plastics, which could be printed
into custom prosthetics and manipulated into patient-specific surgical tools. Then, titanium
powder was loaded into 3D printers to produce custom implants. Now mixed materials are
opening up new possibilities (Lewis). 3D printing is an amazing technology that is customized
for the patient.
Lastly, 3D printing is a personalized medicine but it carries risks. The patient must be
biocompatible for 3D printings. For example, 3D printing likely will play a big role in the more
personalized medicine that is entering the world of health care, says Joe Coray, The Hartford.
3D printing is shaping the future of personalized medicine to improve medical technology. For
example, Everyone of us is different, and 3D technology allows very precise measurements to
be taken via CAT scans and other imaging techniques (Smith). In order for the doctors to know
if the patient is biocompatible they have to get very accurate measurements and tests done. For

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example, They can make a 3-D printout of a patients tumor and organs, then use it to map out a
surgical plan and essentially conducts a dry run before they have stepped into the operating
room (Smith). It is a lot safer when doctors and surgeons do a dry run with their 3D printing
so that way the safety of the patient in insured by taking precautionary measure such as making
sure the patient passes all the required test.
3D printing keeps evolving in the twenty-first century and it is changing the way that
doctors use technology in the medical field. 3D printing is a customized printout designed just to
fit the patient, even though it is very high in cost it is becoming one of the most advanced
technologies in the medical industry. 3D printing has become a surgical aid in many hospitals
around the world, it is a very brave and unique technology that makes the medicine become more
personalized for the patient. In order for the patient to a receive a 3D printed item the patient
must be biocompatible or else the risks are much greater. With 3D printing being on the rise the
doctors require the patient to go through a series of test and scans in order to see if you are
biocompatible. 3D printing will continue to grow in the medical industry as it exceeds the goal of
it being used towards patient health care.
Works Cited

Gobble, MaryAnne M., and Dan Headrick. "Can 3D Printing Save 2D?." Research Technology
Management 59.1 (2016): 5. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 13 Sept. 2016.
Lewis, Caroline. "3-D Printing And Surgery A Paradigm Shift." Plastics News 27.41 (2016):
0013. Small Business Reference Center. Web. 13 Sept. 2016.
Smith, Kate. "Personalized Medicine." Best's Review 3 (2015): 24-25. Small Business Reference
Center. Web. 13 Sept. 2016.

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