Using 2D CT images to directly design and print 3D parametric porous medical models

Abstract

Additive manufacturing (AM) is widely used to create 3D models for medical purposes. However, the AM processing chain for medical applications is complex and poses a relatively high technical barrier, particularly when designing and printing multi-material or porous structures. To streamline the processing chain and improve the efficiency of designing and printing porous medical models, a new method is proposed to skip 3D model reconstruction and costly slicing. It allows the direct design of parametric toolpath slices using CT images to print medical models with controllable porosities. This brings a significant potential shift in the current medical AM paradigm.