Seriously cool ways people are using the Internet of Things (IoT) for health — 3D Printing

3D Printing

3D printing is an amazing technology that can be used in both high-tech and low-tech health applications. Typical 3D printing uses a sort of plastic material for the source, although other types such as nylon and stainless steel are available. Health tech uses these conventional materials and also creative disruptive innovations such as organic tissue for bioprinting.

Happening now

• Prosthetics for amputees
• Shoe insoles
• Casts and splints
• Skin for burn victims
• Airway splints for babies
• Bionic ear with electronics-tissue interface
• Facial prosthesis for cancer patients
• Ankle and knee total joints
• Organ modeling
• Powder and liquid printing for pills

Research and prototype phase

• Bioprinting of blood vessels, specific cells, stem cells, and whole organs

Prototype for organ printing

Prosthetics

Prosthetics are normally very expensive and out of the financial reach of many people at $18,000 to…