Trends in the use of 3D printing with medical imaging

Abstract

A major problem affecting the health systems of almost all countries today is the need to strike a balance between providing effective health services and controlling expenditure to ensure the overall sustainability of the system. The use of 3D printing technology has proved incredibly useful in several areas over the last few years, including the medical sector in a wide range of tasks. The main objective of this review is to provide a starting point for encouraging the development of new tools based on 3D printing using medical imaging to help professionals and researchers balance efficiency and effectiveness in health management and achieve sustainable healthcare. Therefore, this paper presents a typical workflow for using 3D printing based on medical imaging volumetric data to help both researchers and professionals use this technology to treat their patients more cost-effectively and effectively. Healthcare providers and health education institutions equipped with 3D printing are an innovation that will support progress towards a smarter and more sustainable healthcare system.