Abstract
Among the various manufacturing processes currently in use by the industry, 3D printing stands out as a unique additive technique. It enables the creation of three-dimensional solid objects of virtually any shape from a digital model. Initially considered an ambitious concept, medical 3D printing has become a reality thanks to substantial time and investment. This chapter delves into the recent advancements in 3D printing within the modern medical field, offering a concise overview of how and why 3D printing is transforming medical practices, education, and research. It serves as an introduction to the subject, followed by a demonstration of the state-of-the-art through recent industry developments. The significance of this chapter lies in its comprehensive coverage of the evolving role of 3D printing in healthcare, highlighting not only the current applications and challenges but also underscoring its potential to revolutionize various aspects of medical science and patient care.
TopIntroduction
Nowadays, three-dimensional (3D) printing technology represents a big opportunity to help pharmaceutical and medical companies create more specific drugs, enabling the rapid production of medical implants and changing the way that doctors and surgeons plan procedures (Barua et al., 2023a; Gu et al., 2015). This technology has multiple applications, and the fastest-growing innovation in the medical field has been represented by the advent of 3D printing itself (Paul et al., 2018). In this analysis, an overview of the 3D printing application in the medical field is presented, highlighting the usefulness and limitations and how it could be useful for surgeons. These technologies and their related advantages enable the researchers to improve existing medical applications that use 3D-printing technology and to explore new ones (Datta et al., 2019). Figure 1 shows the application of 3D printing in the healthcare domain. A variety of disabled people who have been injured by an accident or a genetic defect can now lead normal lives because of recent advancements in 3D-printed patient-specific prostheses. A precise anatomic prosthesis can be produced using 3D printing and high-quality imaging technology for use in a variety of medical applications (Barua et al., 2021; Datta et al., 2018). The area of dentistry has also been significantly impacted by this. The use of cadaveric training materials to instruct new medical doctors has generated debate. This is brought on by both moral concerns and the expense of the procedures.
Figure 1. 3D-printing application in modern healthcare
In many situations, including those where using a cadaver is not an option, 3D printing technology may provide an innovative and efficient alternative by accurately replicating complicated anatomical organs using high-resolution CT imaging (Jin et al., 2021). Additionally, training facilities greatly benefit from 3D printing's capacity to generate multiple copies of any anatomical subject in various sizes. As mentioned in the section on medical research, 3D printing is already utilized to create human organ and tissue structures for study (Barua et al., 2019). These can be used with biocompatible microfluidics to build incredibly intricate devices that imitate the functionality of real human organs (Shaukat et al., 2022). The following stage involves printing organs that can be transplanted into human donors or even printing organs inside the body while the patient is under anesthesia. While less developed than the other technologies discussed in this chapter, this one has the potential to transform medicine and render synthetic artificial organs and organ transplants obsolete. This chapter's conclusion assesses the present 3D printing for medical applications limits and identifies potential areas for further development.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Biomedical Engineering: Biomedical engineering combines principles of engineering and biological sciences to develop solutions for healthcare and medical challenges. It encompasses designing medical devices, artificial organs, and diagnostic equipment, as well as creating medical imaging techniques and tissue engineering. Biomedical engineers play a critical role in improving patient care, advancing medical research, and enhancing healthcare technology. Their work spans various fields, from prosthetics to genetic engineering.
Drug Delivery: Drug delivery refers to the method and system used to administer medications into the body to achieve therapeutic effects, targeting specific sites or sustained release.
Augmented Reality: AR merges digital content with the real world, overlaying digital information onto the user’s environment for enhanced experiences.
Dental Implant: A dental implant is a titanium or ceramic post-surgically inserted into the jawbone to replace missing teeth. It serves as a foundation for attaching lifelike artificial teeth, restoring function and aesthetics.
3D Printing: 3D printing is a technology that creates 3D objects by layering material, such as plastic or metal, based on a digital design. It revolutionizes manufacturing by enabling customized, rapid, and cost-effective production of a wide range of items, from prototypes to functional parts and even artistic creations.