The Future of 3D Printing in Medicine

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) printing has provided individuals in various industries with a tool to bring their creations to life. The medical field is no stranger to 3D printing, which has been utilized in various applications since its inception. The various additive technologies currently available to elucidate the differences between them will be discussed briefly. The current applications of 3D printing in medicine could be divided into applications in medical education, patient care, equipment modification or fabrication, and research. The various applications in these categories are described with examples of upcoming research and technology that may be available in the near future. Despite the benefits of 3D printing, challenges remain, and technology improvements are required before there will be more adoption in the medical field. The technology is growing rapidly and evolving, and more 3D printing applications will be seen in the future.