Additively manufactured patient specific implants: A review

Abstract

Medical applications of additive manufacturing have seen a significant growth in recent years due to availability of advanced medical imaging and design software and wide range of materials. The range of additively manufactured medical implants is growing rapidly and surgeons need to keep themselves updated with state-of-the-art of the technology. This article reviews several articles related to medical implants to help surgeons and researchers to stay up-to-date on recent developments in the domain. Additively manufactured medical implants are reviewed into five categories: orthopedic implants, dental implants, cranioplasty implants, scaffold implants for tissue engineering and other medical implants including chest wall reconstructive implants, anti-migration enhanced tracheal stents, and buccopharyngeal stents. Additive manufacturing process and material for fabrication of each type of implant are highlighted in the study. It has been observed that titanium alloy is a suitable material for cementless arthroplasty. Porosity in the implants supports bone ingrowth, which results in a significant reduction in stress shielding. Additive manufacturing has a very attractive future in medical implant fabrication due to its capability to produce complex and customized implants. The AM provides freedom to researcher to explore the complex design of medical implants for better bone regeneration and improved osseointegration.