When it comes to 3D printing, the sky is the limit. As 3D printing technology continues to advance, applications can be as far reaching as airplane and automobile parts to medical devices and even anatomically correct, biocompatible models. Although 3D printing technology is developing at a rapid pace, the technology itself is not new. It emerged in the 1980s as a means of creating rapid prototypes. In recent years the applications for 3D printed models have evolved with the available hardware, software, and printable materials. Evolving technology, paired with the creative and innovative minds of scientists, engineers, and physicians, has been the launching pad for developments within 3D printing technology specific to healthcare. One way 3D printing technology is poised to create better patient outcomes is in creating an anatomically and patient-specific models to aid in surgery and medical procedures. With the capability to 3D print patient-specific models, more acc
In many ways, the large scanners used today to screen for cancer represent many of the problems with advanced technology. They’re complex, they’re invasive and they’re extremely expensive. An innovative new cancer test may change that, bringing simplicity, ease of use and affordability to this delicate medical arena by analyzing a patient’s breath for indicators of cancer. First unveiled on June 2 at the annual American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago, this cancer-detecting breathalyzer system, which is still awaiting clinical trials, is able to conduct pre-screening for both breast cancer and lung cancer. Developed by scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology, the cancer breathalyzer could drastically reduce costs for American patients, while enabling expanded screening in countries with inadequate infrastructure and taboos against mammograms . “Most of the directions people are moving in are toward the more complex, the more expensive. I wanted something t