The Beating Heart of Untapped Business Opportunities for Additive Manufacturing

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Device Innovation
• Surgical Planning

Background:

• Complex surgical cases require advanced preparation.
• User-driven innovation can address unmet clinical needs.
• Additive manufacturing (AM) offers novel solutions for medical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore business opportunities by integrating user-driven innovation and AM in surgical preparation.
• To demonstrate the value of patient-specific 3D models in planning life-threatening operations.

Main Methods:

• Surgeons collaborated with a prototyping facility to create a 3D-printed model of a patient's aortic aneurysm.
• The 3D model was used for pre-operative study and procedural experimentation.

Main Results:

• The use of a 3D-printed model enabled surgeons to determine the most effective surgical procedure.
• Surgery time was reduced by approximately 70% compared to conventional planning.
• Shorter surgery times correlated with improved patient outcomes and reduced healthcare costs.

Conclusions:

• Additive manufacturing and user-driven innovation present significant business opportunities in healthcare.
• Makerspaces can partner with healthcare systems to develop innovative solutions for patient care.
• Patient-specific 3D models enhance surgical planning, leading to better patient outcomes and cost efficiencies.