Additive manufacturing witnessed tremendous growth and popularity in the early 2000s, and this technology was believed to revolutionize personalization for the mass market. Over 20 years later, the reality is not far from what was initially thought.
The rising incidence of chronic disorders and the increasing demand for customized medical devices like implants have fuelled the growth of the healthcare additive manufacturing market. The global market for healthcare additive manufacturing was valued at $2.80 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach approximately $15.35 billion by 2032.
Medical Additive Manufacturing
This growth is particularly pronounced in specialized medical applications, where various medical additive manufacturing techniques play a pivotal role. These techniques are used to create medical models, implants, tools, parts for medical devices, medical aids, guides, splints, prostheses, and biomanufacturing.
This growth is particularly pronounced in specialized medical applications, where various medical additive manufacturing techniques play a pivotal role. These techniques are used to create medical models, implants, tools, parts for medical devices, medical aids, guides, splints, prostheses, and biomanufacturing.
According to the 3D Printed Medical Devices Global Market Report 2023, the 3D-printed medical devices market is expected to reach $9.09 billion by 2027, further highlighting the growing relevance of additive manufacturing for healthcare.
But what does the future of additive manufacturing look like? Let’s take a look at what lies ahead for the industry.
Additive Manufacturing in the Healthcare Industry: A Comprehensive Perspective
Additive Manufacturing Innovations in Medical Device Development
Patient-specific Personalization
In the medical field, each patient is unique, which is why additive manufacturing for medical devices has great potential for personalized and customized medical applications. Additive manufacturing (AM) technology allows medical devices to be tailored to individual patients’ anatomical requirements, enhancing their efficacy and comfort.
Creation of Complex Designs
Another notable feat in additive manufacturing is the ability to construct complex designs and structures. With traditional manufacturing processes, intricate geometrical shapes were often challenging or impossible to fabricate. On the other hand, additive manufacturing builds objects layer by layer, enabling the creation of devices with complex internal structures that can improve device performance.
Use of Biocompatible Materials
Additive manufacturing uses a wide range of biocompatible materials. This includes metals, ceramics, and polymers, many of which can be processed into a biocompatible form suitable for patient contact. These materials can be fine-tuned to achieve the desired mechanical properties, degradation rates, or other needed specifications, opening new horizons in the design and manufacture of medical devices. Read more about Future of Additive Manufacturing for Medical devices
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