“ 3D printing is one of the few technologies that allow doctors the ability to personalise a solution for a patient ”
— Gautam Gupta , 3D Systems
Interestingly , 50 per cent of their members are women and girls . Wong believes this is because of Medical Makers ’ mission and values . “ We approach innovation by focusing on designing products for social good ,” she says . “ We use human centereddesign to create life-changing solutions that serve vulnerable populations .” Both Gupta and Wong believe wider adoption of 3D printing is on the horizon . “ 3D printing is one of the few technologies that allow doctors the ability to personalise a solution for a patient .
We ’ re seeing more and more of this . To find the best solution for a patient , the answer is very simple – give them something that is customised for them . And within the next three to five years , I think 20 per cent of orthopaedic devices will be made using 3D printing technology .” In the distant future , Wong says bioprinting – printing using cells and biomaterials to create organs – will become more common . “ People have been bioprinting in space as well , but I think that ’ s much further on the horizon because of the complexity of organs . It ’ s not just about printing the solid organ , you ’ ve got to have the blood vessels , the nerve supply and lymphatics . We ’ ve got a long way to go , but it ’ s great that people are working on it .”
35 healthcareglobal . com