Chapter 3 - Materials for 3D Printing Cardiovascular Devices

Abstract

3D printing has been increasingly used for a multitude of applications in cardiovascular medicine, ranging from creation of physical models, imaging phantoms, mock flow loops, surgical guides, and most recently as a training tool for clinicians and surgeons. In such instances, there is a lot of interest in using materials with mechanical properties that match or mimic those of native tissue. However, many of these applications are limited by the type and quality of material that can be manufactured via 3D printing. This chapter focuses on describing the current state of the art in 3D printed materials with an emphasis on material systems and properties that are relevant to cardiovascular application.