Three-Dimensional Printing in Medical and Allied Health Practice: A Literature Review

Additive Manufacturing: A Comprehensive Review

Additive manufacturing has revolutionized manufacturing across a spectrum of industries by enabling the production of complex geometries with unparalleled customization and reduced waste. Beginning as a rapid prototyping tool, additive manufacturing has matured into a comprehensive manufacturing solution, embracing a wide range of materials, such as polymers, metals, ceramics, and composites. This paper delves into the workflow of additive manufacturing, encompassing design, modeling, slicing, printing, and post-processing. Various additive manufacturing technologies are explored, including material extrusion, VAT polymerization, material jetting, binder jetting, selective laser sintering, selective laser melting, direct metal laser sintering, electron beam melting, multi-jet fusion, direct energy deposition, carbon fiber reinforced, laminated object manufacturing, and more, discussing their principles, advantages, disadvantages, material compatibilities, applications, and developing trends. Additionally, the future of additive manufacturing is projected, highlighting potential advancements in 3D bioprinting, 3D food printing, large-scale 3D printing, 4D printing, and AI-based additive manufacturing. This comprehensive survey aims to underscore the transformative impact of additive manufacturing on global manufacturing, emphasizing ongoing challenges and the promising horizon of innovations that could further elevate its role in the manufacturing revolution.

Added value of 3D printing technology in the manufacturing of customised septal buttons: A scoping review of the literature

BACKGROUND

In recent years, Three-dimensional printing (3-DP) technology, has had several applications in many fields of medicine, including rhinology. The aim of this review is to evaluate the use of 3-DP buttons as a treatment option for nasal septal perforations (NSP).

METHODS

We conducted a scoping review of the literature until June 07, 2022, on the online databases PubMed, Mendeley, and Cochrane Library. All articles referred to treatment of NSP with custom made buttons created by 3-DP technology were included in this study.

RESULTS

A total of 197 articles were generated by the search. Six articles met the inclusion criteria. 3 of the articles referred to clinical cases or clinical series. A total of 35 patients used the 3-DP custom made button as a treatment for NSP. The retention rate of this buttons ranged from 90.5 % to 100 %. An overall decrease in NSP symptoms was also observed in the majority of patients, especially regarding the most common complaints such as nasal bleeding and crusting.

CONCLUSION

The manufacturing of 3-DP buttons is a complex, time consuming process that requires both special laboratory equipment and trained staff. This method has the advantage of reducing the NSP related symptoms and an improving the retention rate. This could make the 3-DP custom made button a first-choice treatment for patients with NSP. However, as a new treatment option, it needs studies with more patients to determine its superiority over conventional buttons and its long-lasting therapeutic effects.

A review of additive manufacturing applications in ophthalmology

Additive Manufacturing (AM) capabilities in terms of product customization, manufacture of complex shape, minimal time, and low volume production those are very well suited for medical implants and biological models. AM technology permits the fabrication of physical object based on the 3D CAD model through layer by layer manufacturing method. AM use Magnetic Resonance Image (MRI), Computed Tomography (CT), and 3D scanning images and these data are converted into surface tessellation language (STL) file for fabrication. The applications of AM in ophthalmology includes diagnosis and treatment planning, customized prosthesis, implants, surgical practice/simulation, pre-operative surgical planning, fabrication of assistive tools, surgical tools, and instruments. In this article, development of AM technology in ophthalmology and its potential applications is reviewed. The aim of this study is nurturing an awareness of the engineers and ophthalmologists to enhance the ophthalmic devices and instruments. Here some of the 3D printed case examples of functional prototype and concept prototypes are carried out to understand the capabilities of this technology. This research paper explores the possibility of AM technology that can be successfully executed in the ophthalmology field for developing innovative products. This novel technique is used toward improving the quality of treatment and surgical skills by customization and pre-operative treatment planning which are more promising factors.

Additive Manufacturing Processes in Medical Applications

Additive manufacturing (AM, 3D printing) is used in many fields and different industries. In the medical and dental field, every patient is unique and, therefore, AM has significant potential in personalized and customized solutions. This review explores what additive manufacturing processes and materials are utilized in medical and dental applications, especially focusing on processes that are less commonly used. The processes are categorized in ISO/ASTM process classes: powder bed fusion, material extrusion, VAT photopolymerization, material jetting, binder jetting, sheet lamination and directed energy deposition combined with classification of medical applications of AM. Based on the findings, it seems that directed energy deposition is utilized rarely only in implants and sheet lamination rarely for medical models or phantoms. Powder bed fusion, material extrusion and VAT photopolymerization are utilized in all categories. Material jetting is not used for implants and biomanufacturing, and binder jetting is not utilized for tools, instruments and parts for medical devices. The most common materials are thermoplastics, photopolymers and metals such as titanium alloys. If standard terminology of AM would be followed, this would allow a more systematic review of the utilization of different AM processes. Current development in binder jetting would allow more possibilities in the future.