4D Printing Coming To Healthcare

By Katie Wike, contributing writer

A Frost & Sullivan report finds 4D printing may be coming to healthcare in the next few years.

According to a recent report from Frost & Sullivan, 4-D printing may be playing a major role in healthcare in the coming years.

“4-D printing, an extension of three-dimensional printing, is superior to conventional manufacturing techniques in terms of performance, efficiency, and quality, and can create new products with increased capabilities,” noted Technical Insights Research Analyst Jithendranath Rabindranath in a press release. “Unlike conventional manufacturing techniques, it facilitates self-assembly of materials required to manufacture parts and products, thereby speeding up the process and reducing the need for labor.”

According to the report, healthcare applications for this type of technology include:

• tissue engineering
• artificial organs
• self-assembling human-scale biomaterials
• design of nanoparticles
• nanorobots for chemotherapy

Healthcare IT News reports cost is a hurdle to these types of projects as prices tend to be high and, at this time, large investments are needed for small profits.

“After a few years of mass commercialization, the cost of employing 4-D printing technology will decrease, prompting several companies across a wide range of industries to integrate this technology into their manufacturing systems,” stated Rabindranath. “Uptake will also strengthen due to the positive funding environment, which encourages confederations, research laboratories, universities, startups and big market participants especially in North America to invest in R&D.”

Download the report HERE