3D Printing BT - Digital Health: Scaling Healthcare to the World

Abstract

Three-dimensional printing which was used for prototyping purposes only at the beginning has evolved to a real option for industrial production purposes. Also for a variety of medical applications it is of utmost interest as three-dimensional objects easily can be prepared, based on patient-specific 3D data. Already used are 3D printed models for educational and training purposes as well as for planning of complex surgical intervention. In addition, 3D printing is commonly used now for fabrication of surgical sawing and drilling templates. For manufacturing of patient-specific implants more and more 3D printing technologies are applied, currently mostly utilizing non-degradable biomaterials like metals or ceramics. But also degradable implants already can be generated, as well as tissue constructs—if bioprinting technologies are applied, utilizing living cells. This chapter provides an overview how 3D printing is currently emerging as an important tool for individualized medicine and patient-specific therapies.