Page 47 - The 10 Most Promising 3D Printing Service Providers 2019

INTRODUCTION

In mid 90s, the concept of seeing our unseen body anatomy by 3D Printing was realized. We
could not only see our normal and diseased tissues, but we could use these 3D Printed models for
treatment planning and fabricating surgical guides.
3D Printed models are processed from 3d
scans used for diagnostic purposes. CT,
MRI, 3D USG and Dental CBCT Scans
can be converted to physical, hand held
models for enhanced visibility.

Normally due to poor awareness
Doctors tend to use 2dimensional
x-ray radiographs. These have several
drawbacks—we cannot see from all sides,
some lesions may get hidden behind
normal structures, need to be expertly
interpreted as they are not precise and
cannot be used for surgical planning or
guide preparation.
MEDICAL / DENTAL 3D PRINTING
SOLUTIONS

Diagnostically the 2D images are poor
as they show only gross disease but
3d models show better details. This is
because 3d models are prepared from

HIDDEN PNEUMONIA TYPE LESION raw DICOM file format and not processed
images.
3d Xray scans are
layered, one on top
of another(Fig1) and
can be seen in a 1mm
thin layer from only
oneside—top, sides or
front (fig3). While 3d
printed models can be
Fig1 & 2 held in hand and viewed
from all sides (Fig4).
Plus small bone chip offs
not visible on x-ray can
be seen, muscles and
bone and large blood
vessels can also be
seen, making surgical
planning precise, easy-
stress free and less time
consuming reducing
patient anesthesia
time and less risky.
Fig3 Fig 4 The usefulness of 3D
Printed models needs to
be realized both by doctors
and patients. Plus these models can be useful for courts and health insurance to be more precise.

Indian Medical/ Dental 3d printing already nearly on par with the western world. Much progress is in
Dentistry as compared to Medical.

Bio-printing for Organ or Tissue printing, we Indians are lacking due to cost constraints but