It is expected that healthcare industry will be one of the top industries in driving the growth and adoption of the 3D printing market in the next decade.

1. M A R K E T I N S I G H T
3D Printing Reshapes Healthcare and Medicine
By Swathi Allada | Research Analyst - Medical Devices

2. Frost & Sullivan | Market Insight
Frost.com
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3D printing is a technology used for producing the final products in a layer-upon-layer manner with the
use of diverse materials.This technology is entirely different from conventional machining techniques.
While traditional production relies on the removal of the material from the solid cast or mould, 3D
printing adds layers of the material to the existing layers.The materials can range from plastic to pliable
materials, individually tailored to patients' needs.This approach means that virtually any shape can be
created and the limitations of the aforementioned conventional techniques are eliminated.The major
advantage of 3D printing technology in healthcare is that everything can be customised.
3D printing has become more prominent during the last few years as new materials and manufacturing
processes have expanded the horizon of the technology and lowered the cost of the production process.
Customised technology can dramatically reduce surgery times and substantially create huge cost-savings.
Though the technology is in its nascent stage, researchers are exploring more futuristic applications
that could improve patients' health.
How 3D printing could revolutionise the overall healthcare industry
Many industries are likely to be impacted by this 3D printing technology; however, the current
applications include 3D printed scaffolds or prosthetics (orthopaedic implants) and medical devices.
Recently, 75 percent of a patient's skull was replaced with the 3D printed implant made with the use of
poly (ether-ketone-ketone) or PEKK biomedical polymer (an ultra-high-performance polymer).The
scope for this technology is enormous, and more applications are expected to appear in the future.
Apart from the medical industry, 3D printing technology is widely applied in the field of aerospace,
architecture,rapid prototyping,industrial design engineering,automotive,food,military,civil engineering,
and others;this trend is most likely to continue and gain prominence.Over the last few years,3D printing
gained a rapid momentum in medicine, with its most recent success with prosthetics, dental implants,
and hearing aids. It is believed that dental implants will be the primary application for the medical
applications.Another emerging area of medicine in the near future will be the production of specialised
surgical tools.
3D printing - the market size for this technology is growing continuously - can dramatically change the
lives of people and improve the quality of care.Although some may believe that 3D printing could be a
technology that will dominate the market and push particular technologies out of the market,the reality
is likely to be different. 3D printing will not replace any of the commercially available manufacturing
techniques. Research is in the direction of creating more complex structures, i.e., human tissues. If this
functional human tissue printing – of printed livers,heart,ears,hands,and eyes - turns out to be a reality,
then it is indeed going to be a potential game changer.With the current advancements in 3D printing
technologies for customised fabrication of complex polymer-based objects, there is much focus on
adapting 3D printing technologies for healthcare applications.This had aroused interest in engineering
bio printing devices that can develop 3D structures and, at the same time, accommodate the
incorporation of living cells.
Applications of 3D Printing - Current and the Future
Applications of 3D printed tissue can be many and varied.They are being used in laboratory settings as
models of human physiology and pathology study. Tissue cell-based assays are a part of the drug
discovery and development evaluation process; such multi-tissue systems can, therefore, serve as more
predictive indicators of clinical outcomes.Other long-term applications of 3D bio printed tissue can be
in building the smallest functional units of tissues, which can lead to the fabrication of large tissues and
organs. Such tissues and organs can be used as either surgical grafts to repair or replace the damaged
tissues and organs. R&D clusters believe that the next step will be in enhancing specific features of the
Recently, 75 percent of a
patient's skull was replaced with
the 3D printed implant made
with the use of poly (ether-
ketone-ketone) or PEKK
biomedical polymer (an ultra-
high-performance polymer).The
scope for this technology is
enormous.

3. Frost.com
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Frost & Sullivan | Market Insight
tissues while at the same time advancing the hardware and the technology to produce larger-scale
tissues.It is estimated that worldwide,more than a million people need kidney transplantation;however,
only a little more than 5,000 people receive it as there is an insufficient number of donor organs. Such
a crisis has restricted people,other than the wealthy,from undergoing kidney transplant as the procedure
is quite expensive, and only a few can afford it. Scarcity of legally donated organs has led to a dramatic
increase in worldwide illegal organ trade. Scientists believe that with the new technology at hand, the
acute organ scarcity can be handled easily by printing a kidney or a liver.
In the near future, 3D printing technology will be able to address the global shortage of organs for
transplant.The medical industry is focussing all its resources into developing technologies and prototypes
that will transform this idea into a reality. It is expected that, in the near future, strips of printed tissue
will soon be advanced enough to test new drugs under development.Alongside human tissue,3D printing
technology can be used to develop body parts.3D printing has been used for pioneering work on foetal
medicine apart from usage in orthotics, prosthetics printing, and surgery planning.
A Promising Outlook
Healthcare has always been a late adopter of electronics and digital apps, but as far as 3D printing is
concerned, the industry has been quick to embrace this specialised technology in various fields.The
growing popularity of the technology has spurred research teams to look for new solutions that would
address the needs of companies willing to invest.There are a number of research institutes and start-
ups that are working on various applications of 3D printing; however, there is still a lot of groundwork
to be done before the real potential of 3D printing technology, expected to be a $6 billion market by
2025, is realised. Some companies, including 3D Systems, Stratasys Ltd., and Arcam AB, were recognised
as the best performers in the 3D printing market in 2014.Various other notable companies in 3D
printing market include Organovo Holdings Inc., Johnson & Johnson Services Inc., and Stryker.The
healthcare and medical/dental industries are some of the fastest growing adopters of 3D printing
technology.The primary reason for this has been the technical advantages that enable the manufacturing
of self-healing organs and biofilm-free implants. Large-scale adoption of this technology in the medical
industry is expected to happen by 2018.The big question for medical device manufacturers is how far
the capability has progressed from a commercial standpoint, and how advanced competitors are in
utilising this innovative technology to drive efficiencies in the manufacturing process and gain competitive
advantage versus other participants. Other issues being talked about include: how 3D printing could
disrupt the supply chain for medical device Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), how liability is
being handled,how regulatory entities will provide certification for the actual manufacturing process as
well as for the end product.3D printing technology analysis indicates that its evolution can be hampered
by copyright claims and legal challenges as the technology gradually evolves. It can be expected that in
another decade, 3D printing will be able to address most of the unresolved health care issues that we
have now.With the convergence of nanotechnology and genetic engineering, it can be expected that it
will play a significant role in life extension.Though some of the future applications may sound bizarre
and absurd, it will ultimately rest on the technology developers and adopters to decide which
applications are to be pursued and which rejected.From the vast scope for application of the technology,
it is expected that healthcare industry will be one of the top industries in driving the growth and
adoption of the 3D printing market in the next decade.
Some companies,
including 3D Systems,
Stratasys Ltd., and
Arcam AB, were
recognised as the best
performers in the 3D
printing market in 2014.

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