The medical industry is changing quickly. While there have been major advances in the technological and biomedical engineering spaces, medical device manufacturers still need viable options for manufacturing devices and equipment both to patients and healthcare providers in an efficient, low-cost manner.

Moreover, the industry has an enormous need for customizable biocompatible and sterilizable components.

While many device manufacturers still use traditional production methods, 3D printing is making it possible to create biocompatible and sterilizable components at a pace that is equally fast as inexpensive.

Applications of 3D Printing in the Medical Field

3D printing has a number of novel applications that are making a big impact on the medical industry. These include:

3D Printed Prosthetics: Prosthetics need to be customized to meet the needs of each patient, making them both expensive and time-consuming to produce. Usually, the fitting process requires multiple castings and follow-up appointments to make sure they fit properly. With 3D printing, patients no longer need a physical cast. Using a scanner, data can be fed to a 3D printer that will develop a model that serves as the basis for a customized prosthetic in a single visit.

Patient Devices and Implants: Hearing aids, artificial joints, and heart valves have all been converting to 3D printing quickly. Hearing aids and heart valves can be produced in a single day when they used to take a week. Furthermore, silicone heart valves provide a major upgrade over traditional heart valves because the fit is more precise.

Dentistry and Orthodontics: Tools in the fields of dentistry and orthodontics require a high degree of customization as well. Dentures, crowns, implants, and retainers have to be tailored to meet the needs of the patient. Today, 3D scans and X-rays can be used to produce 3D printed models using sterilizable plastics in a short amount of time.

The Expansion of 3D Printing Materials

The materials used in 3D printing in the medical industry provide a major upgrade over traditional ingredients. Both TPU and Nylon have been rated by the FDA as Class I to VI for medical devices. This means they can handle prolonged skin contact without causing cytotoxicity. Some of the most popular materials used in 3D printing include:

• Nylon PA-12: This is a general-purpose plastic that is durable, light, and resists corrosion. It can be sterilized in a steam autoclave.
• Estane TPU: This is a 3D printable rubber for when applications call for an elastomer instead of rigid plastic.
• Titanium: Titanium is the leader when it comes to biocompatible metals. It is used for pacemakers, replacement joints, dental implants, and more.
• PC-ISO: This is a biocompatible polycarbonate that is used in FDM 3D printing. It is used in surgical guides and molds.

These materials make it possible for components produced via 3D printing to meet biocompatibility and sterilization requirements.

Benefits of 3D Printing in the Medical Industry

Manufacturing components for the medical industry requires precision to ensure compatibility, reliability and compliance. Turning to 3D printing as an option for producing components and parts offers the industry many benefits including:

• Cost reduction thanks to no tooling requirements
• The medical industry tends to be a low-volume space, which means that 3D printing makes this process much more affordable
• Customers can be flexible with their orders, allowing them to change their designs on short notice
• Shorter turnaround times than traditional methods

As the field of medicine advances and the need for highly customizable devices, components increase, 3D printing can offer the industry an option to produce these in a highly effective manner. With more options for making biocompatible, sterilizable and efficient components, the medical industry can advance in providing better patient outcomes.

As the lockdown for COVID-19 enters its second month in most locations, it’s becoming apparent there are businesses that are thriving, but many more businesses are suffering.

Retail and travel have been hit particularly hard. We joke about not having to wear pants on a Zoom call, but the reality is we don’t need new clothes right now — or new shoes. Air travel has dropped so dramatically that most airlines are cutting flights between 60-85%.

One of the biggest casualties of this pandemic so far is the small business and services sector. We can’t go out to get our hair cut or our nails done. Realtors can’t show houses. We can’t go to the doctor, dentist, chiropractor, or eye doctor.

We aren’t going to work out or yoga classes, attending musical or theatre performances, or getting massages or facials. And of course, it’s no longer possible for groups and associations to hold in-person meetings or conferences.

Some of these businesses will recover once the economy begins to breathe again. But some time-based purchases will never be made up. For example, we are not going to go get two haircuts because we missed one. Nor are we going to get two dental checkups at once or attend two meetings of the same association at once to make up for one that was canceled. The expected revenue from the lockdown period will have evaporated.

This puts many associations and nonprofits in a tough situation. That annual conference that’s been cancelled is unlikely to be rescheduled close to the event date. The missed spring fundraising walk or dinner won’t bring in the expected revenue boost to fund programs and activities.

Waiting for the official “go” signal sometime in the future may be not just frustrating, but financially disastrous. So, what are we to do? Here are a few ideas.

Take events online.

This has been the No. 1 tactic for many businesses and associations. They rework an existing program, whether that is a conference or a performance, to be delivered in an online format. When you can offer a product or service virtually, this makes sense.

Focus on the bottom line.

Most organizations and associations should expect to see a revenue hit during the pandemic. But without the overhead of live programs or events, costs will go down substantially as well. Don’t focus on the amount of money coming in — determine where you can reduce costs to create a lower break-even point.

Create new programs.

If you can’t bring the audience to a live event, how can you provide them something of value? For example, instead of a live concert, offer a recorded performance. Personal trainers and hair stylists are creating videos to help customers during the crisis. Many of these offerings may turn out to be viable programs even after the pandemic is over.

Ask your supporters to pay it forward.

Many stores and restaurants are selling gift cards, allowing customers to provide financial support now with the expectation that products and services may not be delivered for quite a while. Professional service providers and associations can do this as well.

Postpone, don’t cancel.

Where possible, postpone an event or conference — meaning you will honor all existing reservations or ticket purchases for the new future date. It’s like the 2020 Tokyo Olympics now being held in 2021.

Offer credits, not refunds.

In some cases, it may be necessary to offer a refund for a cancelled program. But wherever possible, offer to give customers a credit for a future event — perhaps adding in something of additional value between now and then as a sweetener.

Offer the donation option.

While this is not a great time to ask for money, in some cases it is necessary for the continued viability of the organization. If you are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, suggest customers offer their already purchased tickets or coupons back to the organization in return for a tax-deductible donation.

Whichever options you choose, the key is to take action now. If you wait for the magic moment when everything is back to normal, you may find yourself left out in the cold — without the ability to make up for the time lost.