Industry
Medical 3D Printing
The medical sector is one of the most exciting for 3D printing. The technology is already being used to change lives for the better – and there is much more to come...
How is additive manufacturing impacting the medical sector?
Additive manufacturing (AM) is transforming the medical sector in ways that are both highly innovative and immediately practical. While headlines often focus on future possibilities such as bioprinted organs, the reality is that AM is already delivering meaningful improvements in patient care today. Across healthcare, 3D printing is being used to create patient-specific solutions that improve outcomes, reduce procedure times, and enhance overall efficiency. From customised prosthetics and orthotics to surgical guides and anatomical models, the technology enables clinicians to tailor treatments with a level of precision that traditional manufacturing cannot match.
One of the most impactful applications is in surgical planning. By producing accurate, patient-specific anatomical models from medical imaging data, surgeons can better understand complex cases before entering the operating theatre. This preparation can reduce surgical time, lower costs, and minimise patient trauma. Beyond the operating room, additive manufacturing is also advancing the production of medical devices and tools. Lightweight, customised prosthetics improve comfort and mobility for patients, while 3D printed dental restorations, crowns, and bridges are now widely adopted across the dental sector.
As the technology continues to evolve, its potential extends even further into areas such as pharmaceuticals and regenerative medicine. What remains consistent is its core advantage: the ability to deliver personalised, efficient, and innovative healthcare solutions that directly benefit patients.
How is Ricoh 3D supporting real-world healthcare challenges?
At Ricoh 3D, we are actively applying AM to solve real-world healthcare challenges—working in close collaboration with clinicians to improve both patient outcomes and clinical workflows.
A key example of this is our ongoing partnership with The Orthotic Research & Locomotor Assessment Unit (ORLAU) at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust (RJAH). Together, we have developed innovative orthotic solutions that make a tangible difference to patients’ daily lives. This includes the award-winning Knee-Alignment Device (KAD), which was successfully deployed within the hospital and recognised with a TCT Healthcare Application Award in 2022. Building on this success, we have also collaborated on the development of the Ankle CCD Lever Kit—a 3D printed lever-hinge mechanism designed to make it significantly easier for patients to put on and remove their orthotic devices.
Working directly with radiologists at RJAH, Ricoh 3D has also manufactured patient-specific surgical-anatomical models. These have been used for surgery preparation, reducing the time of surgery, thus reducing costs, resource, and most importantly, enhancing patient care.
Through partnerships like these, Ricoh 3D is helping to bring the benefits of additive manufacturing into everyday clinical practice—delivering practical innovations that improve quality of life align with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as SDG3 - Good Health & Wellbeing.
Why choose Ricoh 3D?
Through our collaborative efforts and ever-growing medical portfolio, we are actively shaping a healthier future for all. From customised prosthetics and orthotic systems, to intricate surgical models and PPE, every product we create is a testament to our commitment to improving global healthcare outcomes, sustainably. Join us in pioneering the next frontier of medical breakthroughs; we are STRONGER TOGETHER.
We can make a tangible difference in the lives of individuals worldwide, all while advancing towards a more sustainable and inclusive future for generations to come.
"Thanks to Ricoh, this collaboration has enabled the commercialisation of a new product to the wider UK orthotics market, particularly focussing on supporting the NHS."
Keith Miller
Senior Rehabilitation Engineer, ORLAU, NHS Foundation Trust.
