Monumental Movements
A young patient is fitted with a 3D printed ear.Copyright 2015 3DPrint.com, CC BY-SA-NC, https://3dprint.com/56087/3d-printed-ear/
Students learn some of the implications of 3D printing in the biomedical field. Unlike 3D printers used in a classroom or by consumers, which use a plastic filament to produce a product, 3D printing for medical purposes is often with real living cells. In this lesson, students gain an understanding of how 3D printing is changing lives for the better through a presentation and group discussion. In the corresponding activity, they have the opportunity to participate in a hands-on simulation of a real-world 3D printing task.
Engineers work daily to develop solutions to various problems in multiple fields such as architecture or aerospace, but more recently they have been making significant strides in improving healthcare. Over the past several decades finding a cure for cancer and many other disease and illnesses has always been a top priority. How to most effectively develop medicines and treatments, and how to deliver those to the most necessary parts of the body in the most effective way is a solution that engineers continue to try and solve.
After this lesson, students should be able to:
- Define the role a biomedical engineer plays in the healthcare field.
- Identify the specific benefits 3D printing can provide in the areas of biomedicine.