Singapore: The Chinese Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of 3D printed hip implants in China, a breakthrough, that will further provide an impetus to this burgeoning sector. Hip implants fall into the highest regulated group of medical devices in the country.

The 3D printed hip implants rely partially on the body's ability to regenerate bone tissue. A very light-weight, partially hollow implant allows for and encourages normal bone growth to take place. So far hip implants are imported from other countries, leading to an increase in prices.

CFDA's nod for 3D printed implants is expected to be a major breakthrough for 3D printing technology within the medical field. The technology will help in lowering costs, thus benefitting the common people.

3D printed devices are in research for quite sometime in China. Professor Zhang Ke of China's Peking University Third Hospital has been developing and experimenting with 3D printed hip implants since 2009. Back in 2012, 32 individual patients had received 3D printed hip implants, and since that time, the results have been documented via clinical observation.