You can soon 3D-print your health in Dubai
dubai — The future of healthcare is now in Dubai. From dental moulds to prosthetics and organ replicas, 3D printing will soon be used extensively here and will revolutionalise healthcare delivery.
Dr Hamda Mesmar, director of dental services department at the Dubai Health Authority, said 10 3D printing machines have been introduced at four primary healthcare centres under DHA. She was speaking at the 42nd edition of Arab Health Exhibition & Congress.
At the congress, the DHA has also displayed a 3D model of a prosthetic leg, which will help amputees get a “more functional and cheaper leg replacement”. Among the innovative 3Dprinting applications on display on Sunday was one that creates 3D models of unborn babies.
“We generate the (proper) file format with an ultrasound,” explained Hani Youssef, general manager for women’s healthcare ultrasound at GE Healthcare systems. “It’s very useful, because the mother will be able to have an idea what the baby looks like.”
dubai — 3D printing has revolutionised medical care and is already being used to print dental moulds, prosthetics and organ replicas. It can even allow expectant mothers to see a 3D-version of their unborn child, according to experts at Arab Health in Dubai.
Dubai Health Authority, for example, will start using 3D technology to print 3D dental molds, a top health official told Khaleej Times.
Using a system that scans a patient’s teeth using an intra-oral scanner, dentists will be able to see digital impression on an imaging screen, which will then be sent to a 3D printer to form the casting. While the conventional casting method takes around an hour and a half to make one’s case, the 3D printing machine will produce 18 cases in six hours.
“It is meant to save the time and hassle of using clay and other materials in dental casting,” said Dr Hamda Mesmar, Director of Dental Services Department at the DHA, adding that the new system will allow an image to be recalled anytime for “reprinting” if needed and thus minimising resources and time.
“Patients will greatly benefit from the use of this technology as it helps in better patient outcomes as well as substantially reduces waiting time and cost of care,” she said.
She said as part of the first phase, 10 printing machines have been introduced to four Primary Health Care Centres under DHA: Al Badaa Health centre, Al Mizhar health centre, Al Barsha and Nad El Hamar health centres. Testing and implementation of the intra-oral scanner will take place in Al Badaa health centre before it is distributed within the next two weeks in the remaining centers.
3D in prosthetics
The DHA has also displayed a 3D model of a prosthetic leg, which will help amputees get a “more functional and cheaper leg replacement.”
Dr Mohammed Al Redha, Director of the Office of Organisational Transformation at the DHA, said measurements play a vital role in 3D technology. “We have to measure the patient’s leg stump, length and the functionality of the leg,” said Al Redha.
The advantage of 3D technology, however, is being able to print another leg in one day if a mistake comes up. He added that 3D leg models are lighter, more durable and efficient, with the flexibility to change the leg model into football shoes, cycling clip or walking gear. Al Redha said it will help enhance patients’ psychological state as well. Although the authority is looking to implement the 3D prosthesis technology before 2021, Al Redha said the key is in understanding this technology to be able to fast-track it.
“There are three important pillars to 3D technology — raising awareness among public, among surgeons who will help implement it and to work on introducing regulations for it,” said Al Redha. sherouk@khaleejtimes.com