UNIVERSITY OF GONDAR

INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
COURSE TITLE: TELEMEDICINE AND HEALTH
INFORMATICS

TITLE: 3D PRINTING
GROUP SEVEN ASSIGNMENT ONE
NO. NAME OF STUDENT ID NO.

1 ASKALE SHIFERAW GUR/

2 FIREHIWOT MELAKU GUR/03688/11

3 KALKIDAN SHEGAYE GUR/

4 ZIGIJU MULATIE GUR/

Submitted To: Mr.Matiwos.T

Submission Date: 30/05/2023

Acknowledgement
First above all, we would like to thank the almighty GOD! Next, we would like to express our
gratitude to our instructor Mr. Matiwos (MSc) for guiding us in emerging our knowledge on the
concepts of telemedicine and for giving us a chance to dig more about 3D printing.

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Abstract
This paper consists of review of some of the recent developments in the application of 3D
printing to medical and healthcare. The topic is introduced with a brief explanation about 3D
print andmethods, types of 3D print and also explains application of 3D printing in terms of
medical and healthcare. Then, taking recent examples of progress in the field, we illustrate the
the advantage and disadvantage of the 3D printing technologies. Finally, concludes by identify
3D printed materials and also 3D printing in Our country.

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Table of Contents
List of figures...................................................................................................................................v

Acronyms........................................................................................................................................vi

CHAPTER ONE..............................................................................................................................1

1. Introduction..................................................................................................................................1

1.1 Background............................................................................................................................1

CHAPTER TWO.............................................................................................................................3

2. Technologies and types of 3D Printing.......................................................................................3

2.1. 3D printing technologies.......................................................................................................3

2.2 Types of 3D printing..............................................................................................................4

2.2.1. Binder Jetting.................................................................................................................4

2.2.2.Direct Energy Deposition................................................................................................4

2.2.3.Material Extrusion...........................................................................................................4

2.2.4. Material Jetting...............................................................................................................5

2.2.5. Powder Bed Fusion........................................................................................................5

2.2.6. Sheet Lamination............................................................................................................5

2.2.7. VAT Photopolymerization.............................................................................................5

CHAPTER THREE.........................................................................................................................6

3.Overall Concepts of 3D Printing..................................................................................................6

3.1. Advancements in 3d printing................................................................................................6

3.2 Requirements of 3D printing in healthcare............................................................................9

3.3. Healthcare uses for 3D printing..........................................................................................11

3.4. Advantages and Disadvantages...........................................................................................13

3.4.1 The advantages of 3D printing......................................................................................13

3.4.2 The disadvantage of 3D Printing...................................................................................13

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 3.5.Medical-Grade 3D Printed Materials...................................................................................14

3.6. 3D- printing in Ethiopia......................................................................................................16

CHAPTER FOUR.........................................................................................................................16

4.Conclusion..................................................................................................................................16

References......................................................................................................................................17

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 List of figures

Figure 3.1 Organs............................................................................................................................7

Figure 3.2 Stem cells.......................................................................................................................7
Figure 3.3 Bioprinting of bone........................................................................................................8
Figure 3.4 Bioprinting of cancer cells.............................................................................................8
Figure 3.5 Bioprinting of heart........................................................................................................9
Figure 3.6 3D printed leg...............................................................................................................11

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 Acronyms

2D Two Dimension
3D Three Dimension
ABS Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene
AMFG Autonomous Manufacturing
CAD/CAM Computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing
CNC Computer Numerical Control
EBM Electron Beam Melting
FDM Fused Deposition Modeling
LOM Laminated object manufacture
MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging
PBF Permanent Bitch Face
POC Point Of Care
STL Standard Triangle Language
UAM Ultrasonic Additive Manufacturing
US United State
UV Ultraviolet
VAT Value- added Tax
VAM Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizae
X-ray CT x – ray Computed Tomography

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 CHAPTER ONE

1. Introduction

1.1 Background
Making three-dimensional solid goods from a digital file is known as 3D printing. 3D-printed
products are produced using additive techniques, which include building up successive layers of
material to complete the object. Each of these levels can be conceptualized as a piece of the
object cross-sectioned thinly. A few of the materials that can be utilized in 3D printing include
resins, ceramics, metals (including powders), and thermoplastics like acrylonitrile butadiene
styrene (ABS).

Charles Hull, the technology's creator, first referred to 3D printing as "stereolithography" in the
early 1980s. Hull was employed by a business that turned ultraviolet bulbs into a plastic coating
for use on household surfacesuse. He came up with the concept of using UV light in a novel
method to transform components made by computer-aided design software into 3-D objects, and
he has been given permission to use their labs after hours and on the weekends. Photopolymers,
which are acrylic-based materials that solidify when exposed to UV light, were found in Hull.
When he realized this, he created a device with a UV laser to carve shapes into the layers of
acrylic and stack the layers to create objects. Hull sold his first 3D printer for $100,000 in 1988
after years of study and experimenting.

Dental implants and personalized prosthetics were the first medical applications of 3D printing in
the 1990s. Eventually, researchers were able to develop organs from patient cells with the help of
a 3D-printed scaffold. Doctors began to work toward creating fully functional organs without a
scaffold for support as technology advanced even further, leading to the development of a small
kidney. In 2008, researchers finally succeeded in creating the first 3D prosthetic leg. A 3D-
printed jaw was produced in Holland as recently as 2012 by the manufacturing firm LayerWise.
Today, 3D printers are widely used in hospitals and are reasonably priced. Organs, for example,
which are essential to human life, may now be created using 3D printers. The 3D Printer was
initially created by Charles Hull to improve the performance of manufactured goods, but he had
bigger plans for his creation. Charles, in my opinion, never considered that his printer might save
hundreds of lives. In addition to altering the course of medicine, Charles' invention is also
improving the quality of life for thousands of people worldwide who are terminally sick [1].

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Large manufacturers in the past who could afford pricey printers and materials were the primary
3D printing users. As 3D printing technology has advanced and become more affordable, it has
become a popular choice among numerous industries. Experts are beginning to employ 3D
printing, particularly in the healthcare sector, to enhance workflows and provide patients more
individualized and affordable healthcare solutions. The healthcare industry has been significantly
impacted by the use of 3D printing. In 2018, it was predicted that the market for medical 3D
printing will be worth $973 million; by 2026, it is anticipated to have grown to over $3.7 billion.
It is feasible to employ 3D printing for a variety of medical purposes, which is projected to
totally transform the industry [2].

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 CHAPTER TWO

2. Technologies and types of 3D Printing

2.1. 3D printing technologies

There are three broad types of 3D printing technology; sintering, melting, and stereolithography.

Sintering is a technique that produces high-resolution products by heating the material, but not
to the point of melting it. While thermoplastic powders are used for selective laser sintering,
metal powder is utilized for direct metal laser sintering.

Due to the qualities created, selective laser sintering (SLS) is frequently used to create polymer
components. It is suitable for prototypes or functioning parts, while the absence of support
structures (the powder bed functions as a support) enables the construction of objects with
complex geometries. The parts created could have an interior porosity and a rough surface,
necessitating post-processing often.

Direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) only heats them to the point of fusion whereby they join on
a molecular level. Both SLM and DMLS require support structures due to the high heat inputs
required by the process. These support structures are then removed in post-processing either
manually or via CNC machining. Finally, the parts may be thermally treated to remove residual
stresses.

Melting Three different 3D printing processes—powder bed fusion, electron beam melting, and
direct energy deposition—melt materials together at high temperatures to create the objects that
are printed.

Both DMLS and SLM generate parts with top-notch physical characteristics, frequently stronger
than the original conventional metal, and fine surface finishes. They can be employed with
ceramics and metal superalloys, which are challenging to work with in conventional ways. The
size of the manufactured pieces is constrained by the volume of the 3D printing machine
employed, and these procedures can be costly.

Stereolithography creates pieces via photopolymerization. Using the appropriate light source,
this technology selectively interacts with the material to cure and solidify a cross-section of the
product in small layers.

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2.2 Types of 3D printing
According to ISO/ASTM 52900 additive manufacturing - general concepts - nomenclature, 3D
printing methods, usually referred to as additive manufacturing, are divided into seven classes.
All 3D printing techniques fall into one of the following categories.:

2.2.1. Binder Jetting

Binder jetting involves the application of a thin coating of powdered material, such as metal,
polymer sand, or ceramic, to the build platform. Next, print heads apply drops of glue to bind the
particles together. Layer by layer, the part is constructed in this manner, and afterward, post-
processing may be required to complete the build. Metal parts may be thermally sintered or
infused with a metal with a low melting point, such as bronze, as instances of post-processing,
while ceramic or full-color polymer parts may be saturated with cyanoacrylate adhesive. Large-
scale ceramic molds, full-color prototypes, and 3D metal printing are just a few of the uses for
binder jetting.

2.2.2.Direct Energy Deposition

Wire or powder feedstock is fused during deposition using focused thermal energy such as an
electric arc, laser, or electron beam. To build a layer, the procedure is traversed horizontally, and
to build a portion, layers are piled vertically. Metals, ceramics, and polymers are just a few of the
materials that can be employed with this method.

2.2.3.Material Extrusion
A spool of filament is fed into an extrusion head with a heated nozzle in the process of material
extrusion, also known as fused deposition modeling (FDM). The build platform then lowers in
preparation for the subsequent layer after the extrusion head heats, softens, and deposits the
heated material at predetermined positions.

Although this method is affordable, it has a quick lead time, but it also has poor dimensional
accuracy and frequently needs post-processing to get a smooth surface. Additionally, this method
often results in anisotropic parts, which are weaker in one direction and unsuitable for
demanding applications.

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2.2.4. Material Jetting
With the exception of depositing layers of liquid material from one or more print heads, material
jetting functions similarly to inkjet printing. The layers are then allowed to cure before the
procedure is repeated for the following layer. Although support structures are needed for material
jetting, they can be created of a water-soluble material that can be removed once the build is
finished.

The most expensive 3D printing technique, material jetting, is a precise procedure, but the items
tend to be fragile and lose quality over time. However, using this method makes it possible to
produce parts in a range of materials in full color.

2.2.5. Powder Bed Fusion

In the powder bed fusion (PBF) method, portions of a powder bed are selectively fused with
thermal energy to produce layers, which are then layered upon one another to form a part. PBF
includes both sintering and melting processes, it should be noted. All powder bed systems
operate in essentially the same way: a recoating blade or roller applies a thin layer of powder to
the build platform; next, a heat source scans the powder bed surface, selectively heating the
particles to cause them to bind. The platform lowers to let the operation to resume after the heat
source has scanned a layer or cross-section. The finished product is a volume with one or more
fused components encased in unaffected powder. When the build is finished, the bed is fully
elevated to enable the removal of the pieces from the unaffected powder and the start of any
necessary post-processing. 

2.2.6. Sheet Lamination

Ultrasonic additive manufacturing (UAM) and laminated object manufacturing (LOM) are two
distinct manufacturing processes that use sheet lamination. UAM attaches thin sheets of metal
using ultrasonic welding, whereas LOM uses alternate layers of material and glue to form objects
with a pleasing appearance. Aluminum, stainless steel, and titanium may all be processed with
UAM, which uses low temperatures and little energy.

2.2.7. VAT Photopolymerization

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The two methods of VAT photopolymerization are stereolithography (SLA) and digital light
processing (DLP). Both of these procedures selectively cure liquid resin in a vat using light to
build pieces layer by layer. While DLP flashes a single picture of each entire layer onto the
surface of the vat, SLA uses a single-point laser or UV source for the curing process. To increase
the robustness of the pieces, parts must first be cleansed of extra resin after printing and then
subjected to a light source. A higher-quality finish can be produced by using further post-
processing and removing any support components [3]. 

CHAPTER THREE

3.Overall Concepts of 3D Printing

3.1. Advancements in 3d printing

A digital model or blueprint developed with software is used for 3D printing. The model or
blueprint is then printed in consecutive layers of materials such as glass, metal, plastic, and
ceramic and joined one layer at a time. The development of novel therapies and techniques is
widely acknowledged as being at the most advanced level in the medical sector. Miracles have
been plentiful and they still take place. Now, 3D printing is also making its way into healthcare.
The use of 3D printers is one way that the medical sector has been improved and enhanced.

With the use of bioinks and additive manufacturing, living cells are printed in layers to create
structures that mimic the behavior and composition of actual tissues. Natural or artificial
biomaterials that can be combined with living cells are utilized to make the bioinks that
constitute the base for bioprinting. Researchers are now able to explore the activities of the
human body in vitro thanks to technology and bioprinted components. Comparatively speaking,
2D in vitro research are less biologically relevant than 3D bioprinted structures.

The fields of tissue engineering, bioengineering, and materials science are the most common
biological applications for 3D bioprinting. Additionally, the technology is increasingly being
used for drug research and approval. The present focus of bioprinting research is on clinical
applications including 3D printed skin and bone grafts, implants, and even complete 3D printed
organs [4].

i.Organs: Scientists and researchers have successfully printed kidney cells, sheets of cardiac
tissue that beat like a real heart, and the building blocks of a human liver, among many other

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organ tissues. However, an entire organ has not yet been properly printed for use in surgery.
Even though it may be at least a decade before this becomes a reality, scientists and medical
researchers are well on their way to making it possible to print out a full human organ for
transplant.

Figure 3.1 Organs

ii.Stem Cells
Stem cells already possess incredible regeneration abilities; they can replicate a wide variety of
human tissue. In many university research facilities today, including those at Edinburgh's Heriot-
Watt University, stem cells are printed. Printing tissues from stem cells paved the way for the
eventual printing of cells into specific body parts and other types of tissues.

Figure 3.2 Stem cells

iii. Skin

Consider the benefits that printing skin grafts for people with burns, skin cancer, and other
conditions and diseases that impact the epidermis could provide. Since 2010, medical engineers
in Germany have been developing skin cell bioprinting, and Wake Forest Institute researcher
James Yoo is creating skin graft printing that can be used to treat burn sufferers directly.

iv.Bone and Cartilage

Within the last few years, Cornell engineer Hod Lipson developed a cartilage tissue bioprinting
prototype. Lipson and other engineers are well on their way to comprehending how to employ
these properties, even though they haven't yet printed a meniscus that can sustain the same
amount of pressure and pounding that a real one can. Additionally, the German team that

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successfully printed stem cells is now aiming to print bone and other components of the skeletal
system

Figure 3.3 Bioprinting of bone

v.Cancer Research

Cancer cells and illness cells are also being bio-printed in the same manner as tissue and
different types of organ cells are to better and more thoroughly investigate how tumors grow and
develop. The development of therapies, cancer cell analysis, and drug testing would all be made
possible by such medical engineering. It's possible that a cancer cure will be discovered within
our lifetimes because to advancements in 3D and bioprinting.

Figure 3.4 Bioprinting of cancer cells

vi. Heart and Blood Vessels

Using fake living cells, a 3D inkjet printer, and a laser to shape them, another German institute
has developed blood arteries. Researchers at Harvard Medical Institute, the University of
Sydney, and the University of Rostock in Germany are also creating different types of cardiac
patches created from 3D printed cells [5].

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 Figure 3.5 Bioprinting of heart

3.2 Requirements of 3D printing in healthcare

A.Customization

The customized nature of healthcare makes 3D printing the ideal technology for this sector.
Instead of manufacturing a huge number of similar pieces, 3D printing makes it possible to
create prosthetic and orthotic devices that are specifically tailored to the anatomy of a patient. so
increasing their suitability.

B.Leadtime

Making new tools can be a time-consuming and expensive procedure. even if it is produced
inside or externally. The lengthy lead time can be fatal in emergency scenarios. Designers and
engineers can quickly create and iterate concepts thanks to 3D printing in the healthcare industry.

Using realistic prototypes helps improve communication in addition to speeding up prototyping.

The opinions of physicians and patients are crucial to the success of any medical technology.
Combined with the pace at which these design upgrades can be applied. The unique parts can be
designed and sent to print quickly because the 3D printer is so exact. Within a matter of hours, it
is possible to iterate the design of a medical tool based on direct feedback from the surgeon. Who
will use it and print a new model for assessment in no time at all?

Design development is accelerated by the quick feedback loop. While the final design is still
being optimized, manufacturers can also use early 3D printed components to support clinical
studies or early commercialization. Although printing parts is frequently quicker than using
conventional production techniques, the process of converting scan data into a printable file still

9
takes a substantial amount of time. Therefore, it is not the best option for more urgent trauma
patients.

C.Costs

Custom gadgets and parts demand a great deal of attention to detail. Human mistake is possible
when a procedure is carried out manually, which could cause projects to run more slowly and
cost more money. However, 3D printing has made it possible for medical professionals to make
multiple iterations prior to printing, assisting them in identifying any potential faults and
guaranteeing that the final product is flawless.

In addition to having the ability to create unique, complicated parts, 3D printing in healthcare is
best suited for low-volume production, resulting in lower costs and more efficacy. There is no
longer a need for expensive tooling or machining procedures. Additionally, waste is decreased,
which further lowers the expenditures.

D.Sterilizable
Sterilization is a crucial material property due to the use of particular components in the medical
sector. PEEK and Ultem are the most suitable among the many strong, light, and sterilizable
materials that can be used in 3D printing.

E.Complexity
Where, conventional manufacturing may have struggled to create complex, organic shapes, the
designs that 3D printers are now able to produce are potentially limitless. New composites and
hybrid plastics make it possible to create body parts that have improved strength and are
lightweight. By selecting the correct materials and combining them with designs that are
completely accurate and precise, the patients benefit from enhanced quality, comfort, and
freedom. Medical professionals, in particular, are beginning to use 3D printing to improve their
practices and offer more customized and affordable healthcare options for their patients [6].

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 Figure 3.6 3D printed leg
3.3. Healthcare uses for 3D printing
Today 3D printing is being used in specialty care such as orthopedics, pediatrics, radiology, and
oncology. Doctors, hospitals, and researchers around the world are using 3D printing for:

1. Preoperative planning

With the aid of 3D printing, doctors may produce reference models from MRI and CT images
to aid surgeons in better planning operations. Preoperative planning is changing as a result of
3D printing, which reduces time spent in the operating room, improves patient outcomes,
hastens postoperative recovery, and lowers hospital costs.

2. Customized surgery

More hospitals are producing internal 3D-printed anatomical models as the cost of 3D printers
has decreased and CAD/CAM medical software has become more widely available. 3D-printed
anatomical models help surgeons plan operations more effectively, establish better treatment
options, shorten the length of operations, and enhance research and student training in
medicine.

3. Designing medical devices

Medical devices must adhere to a number of standards in order to function properly:

Traditionally, much time was needed to produce medical equipment that met these
requirements. Manufacturers of medical devices discovered stereolithography as an alternative,
which is a method of layer-by-layer structure construction using a moving laser beam under

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computer control. Thus, an inhaler prototype was made using 3D printing, together with all of
the necessary fixtures and jigs.

4. Improving surgical instruments

Scalpel handles, forceps, and clamps that have been 3D-printed specifically for a patient's
procedure improve surgical efficiency, shorten operating times, and improve patient outcomes.
Custom surgical instruments are made from materials like stainless steel, nylon, titanium alloys,
or nickel and are suitable for sterilizing.

5. Creating prostheses

Simple prostheses come in standard sizes, but specialized bionic prostheses cost thousands of
dollars. Many children in this circumstance outgrow their prostheses and require specialized
replacement parts, which are only made by a few manufacturers.

6. 3D-printed implants

For the knees, spine, cranium, or hips, metal 3D printing enables medical device manufacturers
to create implants that perform better, fit better, and last longer. With the use of an electron
beam, the process known as electron beam melting (EBM) melts a metal powder layer by layer,
producing high-precision pieces. There is a higher proportion of osseointegration, or the in-
growth of bone into a metal implant, with these orthopedic implants because they offer spongy
structures that resemble normal bone tissue. Customized 3D-printed implants offer a flexible
solution for challenging orthopedic problems and might expand the range of available
treatments in the future.

7. 3D Digital Dentistry

Manufacturing of dentures, surgical guides, bridge models, and, most importantly, clear
aligners—invisible appliances that correct teeth—all use 3D printing in the dental sector.

Clear aligners are less noticeable than metal braces and can be removed when the wearer needs
to eat or brush their teeth. Clear aligners are often produced using a time-consuming

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combination of manual and machining techniques. The use of 3D printing speeds up the process
because it allows for the immediate creation of clear aligner patient molds from digital patient
scans.

8. Streamlining drug administration

The use of 3D-printed pills can potentially streamline the delivery of medication. Five discrete
pharmacological compartments and two different release profiles make up the Polypill, a
concept created for people with many afflictions. Setting a plan might be challenging for
patients with several health concerns who frequently take their medications at different times of
the day. This 3D-printed pill manages dosage and any interactions between medications treating
various illnesses, doing away with the requirement for this scheduling and constant supervision
[7].

3.4. Advantages and Disadvantages

3.4.1 The advantages of 3D printing

A. Bespoke, cost-effective creation of complex geometries:

With the help of this technology, it is simple to create custom geometric pieces with increased
complexity at no additional cost. Since no additional material is required, 3D printing can
occasionally be less expensive than subtractive production techniques.

B.Affordable start-up costs:

The price of this manufacturing technique is comparatively low because molds are not needed.
The cost of a part is directly correlated with the quantity of materials used, the time required to
construct the part, and any necessary post-processing.

C.Completely customizable:
Because the process is based upon computer-aided designs (CAD), any product alterations are
easy to make without impacting the manufacturing cost.

D.Ideal for rapid prototyping:

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This procedure is perfect for prototyping since it allows for small batches and in-house
production, which means that goods may be generated faster than with more conventional
manufacturing processes and without depending on external supply chains.

E.Allows for the creation of parts with specific properties:

Although metals and plastics are the most typical materials utilized in 3D printing, there is still
room to produce parts from custom-made materials that have certain needed features. Therefore,
parts can be made for particular applications with better strengths, water resistance, or heat
resistance, for example.

3.4.2 The disadvantage of 3D Printing 

A.Can have a lower strength than with traditional manufacture:

While many 3D-printed items are more fragile than those produced using conventional
manufacturing methods, some, such those made of metal, have outstanding mechanical qualities.
This is due to the parts' layer-by-layer construction, which lowers their strength by 10% to 50%.

B.Increased cost at high volume:

Large production runs cost more when using 3D printing since economies of scale do not apply
as they would to other conventional techniques. According to estimates, 3D printing is less
economical than CNC machining or injection molding when producing more than 100 units of
identical parts, given that the parts can be produced conventionally.

C.Limitations in accuracy:
The kind of machine and/or technique utilized affects how accurate a printed part is. Because
some desktop printers have tighter tolerances than others, the finished parts could somewhat
deviate from the designs. It is important to keep in mind that 3D-printed parts might not always
be accurate, even though this can be addressed with post-processing.

D.Post-processing requirements:

The accuracy of a printed part is influenced by the type of machine and/or technique used. The
completed parts could differ slightly from the designs since some desktop printers have tighter
tolerances than others. Even though this can be fixed with post-processing, it's crucial to
remember that 3D-printed parts might not always be correct[9].
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3.5.Medical-Grade 3D Printed Materials
Not all materials are made equal when it comes to medical products. Medical implants and
devices must be sterilizable since the presence of microorganisms can cause infections that are
fatal. Any product that will come into contact with tissue must also be biocompatible, which
means it must not be poisonous to living tissue and cause negative side effects when used in
biological systems. Particularly for implants, the materials used must be ones that the recipients'
bodies are likely to accept. Due to the surprisingly corrosive nature of our bodies' fluids over
time, corrosion-resistance is just as crucial.

Fortunately, a variety of polymers and metals that fit these criteria are compatible with
contemporary 3D printers. Below, we’ve outlined a few of the most commonly used 3D printed
materials for the medical industry.

Nylon PA-12
Both flexibility and chemical resistance are strong points of nylon PA-12. Additionally, it is
among the easiest and least expensive medical-grade materials to print, and it works with both
SLS and Multi Jet Fusion printing.

PC-ISO
A polycarbonate (PC) technical thermoplastic called PC-ISO is utilized in FDM 3D printing. It is
frequently used for surgical guides, prototypes, and molds despite having a lower-quality finish
than Nylon PA-12. PC-ISO is USP Class I-VI approved, ISO 10993 compliant, and can be
gamma or EtO sterilized.
ABS M30i
FDM prints are ideal for functional prototypes, form-fit tests and end-use parts. ABS M30i can
be gamma or EtO sterilized and is also USP Class I-VI and ISO 10993 certified.

Titanium
Titanium is the king of biocompatible metals and is the most popular material for medical
implants. Replacement joints, pacemakers, cranial plates, dental implants and more are all
regularly made from titanium. Titanium is extremely strong, lightweight, corrosion-resistant and
non-reactive. It can be 3D printed using DMLS, one of the most expensive 3D printing
technologies.

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Cobalt Chrome
Cobalt chrome offers good biocompatibility and a very strong corrosion resistance, just like
titanium. It is frequently used for heavy-use replacement joints including knees, hips, and
shoulders as well as replacement teeth since it gives more strength and hardness than titanium.
DMLS is also used to 3D print cobalt chromium. Study up on cobalt chromium.

Stainless Steel
Strong, sterile, and biocompatible are all qualities of stainless steel. For temporary implants like
bone screws and surgical instruments, stainless steel is more frequently employed. With direct
material printing, stainless steel parts may be 3D printed for a lot less money than other metal
parts. Stainless steel comes in various varieties with varied degrees of strength, stiffness, and
chemical resistance.

TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane)

TPU is permitted for prolonged skin contact for at least 30 days. TPU is frequently used to make
seals, medical tubing, breathing masks, and prosthetic components.

3.6. 3D- printing in Ethiopia

Ethiopia has only recently adopted 3D printing technology, and there aren't many companies
offering this service. However, interest in 3D printing technology has grown as a result of the
expansion of technology and innovation hubs throughout the nation. The iCog Labs, a tech hub
situated in Addis Abeba, is one of the projects seeking to promote 3D printing in Ethiopia. To
help startups and business owners prototype and develop their goods, they offer 3D printing
services. A program to teach pupils about 3D printing technology has also been developed.

In addition to iCog Labs, a few more businesses and startups, like Sintiendo and Redoxio, offer
3D printing services and goods in Ethiopia. However, Ethiopian prices for 3D printing hardware
and supplies are still quite costly, making it difficult for individuals and small businesses to use
the technology. Additionally, the absence of an adequate legal framework for intellectual
property rights and patents presents difficulties for businesses that use 3D printing in the nation.

CHAPTER FOUR
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 4.Conclusion

The benefits of 3D printing in healthcare include increased accuracy and efficiency, reduced
costs, and improved patient outcomes. The technology has opened new avenues for research,
medical education, and healthcare delivery, making it a powerful tool for healthcare providers
globally. Despite its benefits, the technology still faces some challenges, including regulatory
hurdles and lack of compatibility with existing healthcare infrastructure. However, with
continued research and development, 3D printing is set to transform the healthcare industry
further in the years to come. In conclusion, 3D printing has revolutionized the healthcare
industry by providing innovative solutions to various challenges, including personalized
medical treatment, prosthetic limb production, and surgical planning.

References

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[1] L. Ventola, “Medical Applications for 3D Printing,” PMC, vol. 39, no. 10, p. 704–711, 2014.

[2] Thierry Rayna and Ludmila Striukova, “From rapid prototyping to home fabrication: How
3D printing is changing business model innovation,” Technological Forecasting and Social
Change, vol. 102, pp. 214-224, 2016.

[3] G. Abington, “TWI,” [Online]. Available: https://www.twi-global.com/technical-

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