Additive Meets Medicine

Send us Fan MailMedical 3D printing is one of the most promising—and misunderstood—areas of additive manufacturing. In this episode of AM Insider, we’re joined by Ben Klein, a biomedical engineer and former leader in medical additive manufacturing, to unpack what’s actually working in healthcare and why adoption takes longer than most expect.Ben shares firsthand insight from building early medical 3D printing programs, including patient‑specific anatomical models, surgical guides, and tissue‑like training models used by surgeons and device manufacturers. We explore why hype-driven use cases often fail, how real clinical adoption happens, and what it takes for additive manufacturing to become part of the standard of care.The conversation dives deep into workflow challenges, surgeon adoption, reimbursement realities, and how AI-driven automation could unlock the next phase of scalable medical 3D printing. Ben also offers practical advice for engineers, startups, and hospitals looking to enter the medical space—and what not to do if you want long-term success.In this episode, we cover:Why medical 3D printing adoption moves slower than other industriesAnatomical models vs. patient‑specific surgical guidesHow surgeons actually decide whether to use 3D printed toolsWorkflow and segmentation as the real bottleneckThe role of AI in automating medical design workflowsReimbursement, regulation, and the path to standard of careWhere medical additive manufacturing is headed in the next 5–10 yearsWhether you’re working in additive manufacturing, medical devices, healthcare innovation, or exploring how 3D printing fits into regulated industries, this episode offers a grounded, experience‑driven look at what it really takes to succeed.