Additive Manufacturing, commonly known as 3D printing, is set to change the world of medicine as we know it.
What once was only a thought has now become a reality as The Additive Design in Surgical Solutions Centre (ADEISS) is using 3D printing technology to design, develop, and produce medical devices.
Examples of 3D-printed bone replacements
ADEISS hopes to use their technology to advance the ability to design procedures more specifically to patients. One case of patient specific design has already shown success for a dog named Patches. Patches came to the Ontario Veterinary College with a cancerous tumour in her head.
Dr. Michelle O’Blak spearheaded the Patches case and believes the collaboration with ADEISS to be a great success. Dr. O’Blak is confident that Patches metal replacement should last a lifetime.
With the success of the patches case ADEISS is one step closer to making these products available to human patients. Not only will this help shorten procedure times, Yara Hosein says it may help put money back in the pockets of Canadians. “Providing surgeons with tools that will reduce OR time will hopefully reduce time in surgery and surgical dollars spent,” says Hosein.
The Renishaw 3D printer used for the Patches case.
Hosein is looking forward to the future of ADEISS in collaboration with Canadian medicine.
It is clear through patches success story that 3D printing will continue to evolve and advance into the medical field.
WATCH: Additive Manufacturing used for Patches
