Possibilities of Preoperative Medical Models Made by 3D Printing or Additive Manufacturing

Abstract

Most of the 3D printing applications of preoperative models have been focused on dental and craniomaxillofacial area. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the possibilities in other application areas and give examples of the current possibilities. The approach was to communicate with the surgeons with different fields about their needs related preoperative models and try to produce preoperative models that satisfy those needs. Ten different kinds of examples of possibilities were selected to be shown in this paper and aspects related imaging, 3D model reconstruction, 3D modeling, and 3D printing were presented. Examples were heart, ankle, backbone, knee, and pelvis with different processes and materials. Software types required were Osirix, 3Data Expert, and Rhinoceros. Different 3D printing processes were binder jetting and material extrusion. This paper presents a wide range of possibilities related to 3D printing of preoperative models. Surgeons should be aware of the new possibilities and in most cases help from mechanical engineering side is needed.

The Effects of a Functional Three‐dimensional (3D) Printed Knee Joint Simulator in Improving Anatomical Spatial Knowledge

“…In recent years, the emergence of 3D printing technology has benefited multiple areas in the field of medicine. Based on medical imaging data, 3D printing can accurately replicate patient‐specific anatomical structures (Salmi, ; Ni et al, ). The application of 3D printed models extends from surgical planning (Rengier et al, ; Krishna et al, ), surgical training (Rose et al, ; Peres et al, ), and classroom teaching (Mogali et al, ; Smith et al, ), to better understanding of anatomical structures (Gervasi et al, ; Ramakrishnan et al, ; Ni et al, ).…”

3D printed versus conventionally cured provisional crown and bridge dental materials

“…However, despite the relatively large number of recent review papers discussing the use 3D printing in dentistry 1,3,5,6,14 , examples in the literature actually addressing questions pertaining to parameters defining the characteristics and properties of 3D printed restorative dental materials is strikingly low 12,15 . Fabrication of surgical guides 16–18 , diagnostic models 19 , occlusal splints 20 , and a myriad of other applications that are not targeted at printing of direct or indirect intraoral restorative materials are already a clinical reality. These examples, however, have generally used polymers that have little potential for intraoral clinical application due to lack of regulatory approval, and incompatibility of their properties with medium to long-term dental applications.…”

Bismuth Infusion of ABS Enables Additive Manufacturing of Complex Radiological Phantoms and Shielding Equipment

“…For example, CT data of a patient with a brain tumor has been utilized to 3D print an anthropomorphic model to train neurosurgeons in performing craniotomies [12]. Salmi used additive manufacturing to create an array of preoperative anatomical models, including a heart model and orthopedic models of the knee, backbone, and pelvis [13]. Tuomi et al classified 3D-printed medical devices into five different classes, including educational models, and published an online repository for information and case studies associated with medical additive manufacturing [14].…”