A novel classification and online platform for planning and documentation of medical applications of additive manufacturing.

Additive manufacturing technologies are widely used in industrial settings and now increasingly also in several areas of medicine. Various techniques and numerous types of materials are used for these applications. There is a clear need to unify and harmonize the patterns of their use worldwide.

Imaging requirements for medical applications of additive manufacturing.

Additive manufacturing (AM), formerly known as rapid prototyping, is steadily shifting its focus from industrial prototyping to medical applications as AM processes, bioadaptive materials, and medical imaging technologies develop, and the benefits of the techniques gain wider knowledge among clinicians. This article gives an overview of the main requirements for medical imaging affected by needs of AM, as well as provides a brief literature review from existing clinical cases concentrating especially on the kind of radiology they required. As an example application, a pair of CT images of the facial skull base was turned into 3D models in order to illustrate the significance of suitable imaging parameters.

A digital process for additive manufacturing of occlusal splints: a clinical pilot study.

The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a digital process for manufacturing of occlusal splints. An alginate impression was taken from the upper and lower jaws of a patient with temporomandibular disorder owing to cross bite and wear of the teeth, and then digitized using a table laser scanner. The scanned model was repaired using the 3Data Expert software, and a splint was designed with the Viscam RP software.

Novel additive manufactured scaffolds for tissue engineered trachea research.

Conclusions: This study demonstrates proof of concept for controlled manufacturing methods that utilize novel tailored biopolymers (3D photocuring technology) or conventional bioresorbable polymers (fused deposition modeling, FDM) for macroscopic and microscopic geometry control. The manufactured scaffolds could be suitable for tissue engineering research.

Objectives: To design novel trachea scaffold prototypes for tissue engineering purposes, and to fabricate them by additive manufacturing.

Accuracy of medical models made by additive manufacturing (rapid manufacturing).

Background: Additive manufacturing (AM) is being increasingly used for producing medical models. The accuracy of these models varies between different materials, AM technologies and machine runs.

Purpose: To determine the accuracy of selective laser sintering (SLS), three-dimensional printing (3DP) and PolyJet technologies in the production of medical models.

[Medical applications of rapid prototyping--three-dimensional bodies for planning and implementation of treatment and for tissue replacement].

The possibilities of medical applications of rapid prototyping are continuously expanding and developing. In current applications, five main groups are distinguished: (1) preoperative planning, surgical training and teaching, (2) inert implants, (3) surgical instruments and special equipment associated with the operations, (4) postoperative guides, long-term supports and aids and (5) artificial tissue. The first four of these are already in general use, whereas the last one is still under investigation.