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. 2014 Oct;39(10):704-11.

Medical Applications for 3D Printing: Current and Projected Uses

C Lee Ventola

Medical Applications for 3D Printing: Current and Projected Uses

C Lee Ventola. P T. 2014 Oct.

Abstract

3D printing is expected to revolutionize health care through uses in tissue and organ fabrication; creation of customized prosthetics, implants, and anatomical models; and pharmaceutical research regarding drug dosage forms, delivery, and discovery.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A 3D printer uses instructions in a digital file to create a physical object.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Radiographic images can be converted to 3D print files to create complex, customized anatomical and medical structures.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The NIH 3D print exchange is a free online resource for sharing medical and scientific 3D print files and tutorials.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Researchers at the National Library of Medicine generate digital files from clinical data, such as CT scans, that are used to make custom 3D-printed surgical and medical models.
Figure 5
Figure 5
A 3D model used for surgical planning by neurosurgeons at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
Figure 6
Figure 6
A 3D-printed representation of an influenza hemagglutinin trimer.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Mertz L. Dream it, design it, print it in 3-D: What can 3-D printing do for you? IEEE Pulse. 2013;4(6):15–21. - PubMed
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