PRINTING PAPERS, ARMS, AND HEARTS
A few years ago if anyone had told me that they printed anything apart from paper, I would have fallen about, laughing at their wild imagination and yet here I am today, at the beginning of a new decade- 2020, reading from newspapers or listening to my parents casually discussing masks, protective equipment, and ventilator components being 3-D printed during this period of a pandemic.
A year ago I remember excitedly texting one of my friends that the first heart had been 3D printed in Tel Aviv, Israel. The fact that scientists were able to print a heart from human cells mesmerized me. Its size is only of a rabbit’s heart, and it does not beat, yet this little organ is a milestone in the field of biotechnology and medicine. Statistics show that 20 people die on a daily basis due to the unavailability of donor organs, so if developed completely this technology can unquestionably help save millions of lives. Researches remain hopeful that such organ printers will be used in the best hospitals around the world in ten years’ time.
Today the role of 3D in the field of healthcare is increasing rapidly. Experts have developed 3D-printed prosthetic arms, skin for burn victims, facial reconstruction parts for cancer patients, and orthopedic implants. These are just a few items from the long list of products that have been manufactured. In my opinion, beyond progress in technology, such innovations in 3D printing techniques, particularly related to the medical field can expand the accessibility of treatment options. Mass production of such medical devices can lead to a better standard of living by impacting a larger section of society. Today it is very expensive to undergo such complex medical procedures due to the limited availability of medical equipment. However, if the commodities required could be replicated in large numbers, it would lead to successful treatment outcomes. Imagine a hospital just printing human hearts every time someone has heart failure. In conclusion, I personally feel that the usage of 3D printing in the field of healthcare is dynamic and its influence on human lives is powerful and impressive.
