3D Printing used to be a thing of Sci-Fi movies only. Now, it is very real. In fact, it is already being used in different fields. Being able to create a three-dimensional object out of a computer file is really amazing. The immense possibilities of 3D printing are now revolutionizing the world of medical science as well.

You can literally create any size, shape and even of any specific materials using a digital model. Through a process called additive process where the layers of an object being printed or created are laid down one by one to create its three dimensional form. This is the exact opposite of traditional ones that usually involved cutting, drilling or removal of some materials.

Although there are still people who are not aware of this amazing technology, 3D Printing has actually been there for quite a while already. In fact, it already has several uses in the manufacturing industry both in the creation of prototypes and the actual production of different objects. It is also used in construction, engineering and other related fields.

What’s really interesting is that because of the opportunities that it opened fields like Medicine and Surgery is actually now on it too. Several research and as a matter of fact breakthroughs have already been achieved when it comes to the use of 3D printing in the field of medicine.

It is not a secret that many people die because of organ failure. Different internal organs have become hot commodities even in the black market because more and more people need organ transplant and most of them die because of the lack of access to medical facilities and sometimes the donors of organs that they need.

This is where 3D printing came into the picture. Using living cells, through 3D printing scientists have actually been able to replicate living tissues and in fact living organs that can be used for organ transplant for those who are in need.

There is still a major problem when it comes to creating viable organs for transplant. One is that because this is created using a machine, the vascular system that should support the living organ is not yet functional and by the time printing is finished those cells used may have already died. However, scientists remain hopeful that in few more years they will be able to find a concrete solution for this major stumbling block.

Although, there are still issues when it comes to organs that are not actually vascular like the skull, bones and those that can be replaced with specialized plastic or other non-toxic and transplant ready materials 3D printing have been very successful already.

There are already cases where patients who otherwise would have died were able to survive because they were able to receive organs made from a 3D printer.

This is such a great advancement in the field of surgery as it provides new options when it comes to treatment of different surgical diseases or illness. Soon, as more research and experiments are done this technology will really be something that everyone especially those who need medical attention will be able to enjoy.