The industrial and medical sectors have been showing increasing interest in 3D printing over the past few years. It is no longer just used for prototyping or certain niche areas of business. With significant advantages including speed, accuracy, and customizable production that make it easier and more accessible to innovate, additive manufacturing has now emerged as a top manufacturing technique.
The usage of 3D printing is expanding and is only getting started. Therefore, how can it be completely included in the medical industry, and for what purposes?
Since the 1980s, 3D printing has been a technology that has gained popularity and is increasingly being used.
Additive manufacturing is discussed along with 3D printing. This implies that pieces are created by adding progressively thicker layers of material while being guided by a computer.
This approach, which differs from traditional manufacturing, is intriguing because it not only does not require a mold or specialized equipment, but also provides for greater flexibility and speed in the manufacture of customized components, less waste, and consequently lower costs. The possibilities offered by 3D printing are almost endless!
And it’s undeniably for this reason that there are 18% more patent applications for this technology each year than there were five years ago. Additionally, the IPO named it one of the top 10 categories in terms of growth over the last five years.
The capacity to adapt to the unique needs of each patient, quick and local manufacturing and other features show why additive manufacturing is so well suited to the demands of the healthcare industry.
Because they have been incorporating it into their practices for a number of years and because it affects all specialties, surgeons and medical professionals have grasped this.
Now, where does 3D printing come into helping make the Nostreal products?
It is absolutely possible to develop and construct this sort of product using 3D printers, despite the fact that there are undoubtedly regulatory restrictions that must be obeyed for its production and usage.
This is a component of a comprehensive strategy for innovation, product development, and occasionally even patent filing.
Using the data gathered from the casts and CT scans of the nostrils, we had to make a rough model of the Nostreal product in our advanced CAD system. we then 3D printed the prototypes and made changes as recommended by the doctors. We made nearly 50 revisions to the initial design to get to the final design. We used about 32 kilos of 3D printing material for the prototyping of the parts.
We then made a prototype or mock mold from the part design to optimize several aspects of LSR molding. There were several aspects of the mold design that were solved by using 3D printing the molds for various scenarios. Questions such as gate location, gate type, parting line split, draft, undercuts, and several such aspects were solved before making the final decision on the mold design. Without 3D printing, we could have had spent a lot more time and money on the R&D of the mold design.
Although this is not the most prevalent application, it is extremely likely to grow and make “customizable” more widely available to everyone at very affordable rates.
We at White Lotus offer 9 different sizes using special LSR molding molds and machines for general-purpose users, but however there comes a need for a specialized case, which we want to be more individualized and customized, it might be a first-choice option. For a single committed patient, a special component can be created via additive manufacturing. We can design and make a mold in a couple of days of time, and mold a perfect custom-fit Nostril Retianerfor the user.
Now, there is a very important factor to keep in mind: the 3D printer is not for everyone. It is not a toy, although it can be used as one, it is a machine of serious power to change the world. To fully benefit from these techniques for medical usage, certain engineering expertise is needed.
The good news is that engineers have been receiving training on these tools for a while now. It is quite possible to create high-quality and practical medical equipment by fusing the advanced capabilities of printers with the cutting-edge knowledge of engineering teams. This will not only offer patients a better care pathway, but will also give doctors access to cutting-edge innovations and give hospital staff quick responses to minor daily needs.
We at White Lotus, are always on the lookout for new technology and training, are our team is keeping up to date with the latest 3D printing techniques and processes. A health organization, such as ours, must use this kind of innovation if it wants to expand its research capabilities while also lowering costs and improving projects.
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