3D printing technology applied in orthopaedics

Abstract

3D is an important technology occurs in 1980s, which has been about more than 30 years since the first 3D machine was developed. Currently, it develops rapidly and its application scope has been greatly expanded. Its most prominent features are the and the diversification of printing ink. The can make it possible to tailor the biological materials for each patient, and the diversity of printing can make the technology meeting different clinical needs. 3D can be divided into four aspects: 1) the collection and formation of image of object; 2) the treatment and the transformation of the image information; 3) based on the data formatted; 4) the post-treatment and performance evaluating of the object. At present, the common methods related to orthopaedics include: 1) stereolithography appearance; 2) selective laser sintering; 3) fused deposition modeling; 4) laminated object manufacturing; 5) the direct metal melting technology (selective laser melting or electron beam melting); 6) the ink jet technology. A variety of materials have been used in 3D printers, including the natural medical materials like collagen and chitosan, the synthetic polymers like polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid and peek, the bioactive ceramic materials like hydroxyapatite, the medical metal materials like titanium. The 3D printed material are mainly used in the following seven aspects in orthopaedics: 1) the preoperative planning, such as the of the lesion and resection model; 2) operation navigation make the surgery procedure more accurate; 3) making the customized prosthesis and implant; 4) implanting the external fixation; 5) the development of new surgical instruments meets the special needs of patients; 6) making the personalized tissue engineering scaffold used in regenerative medicine; 7) the development of drug and its release study.