3D printing and neurosurgery--ready for prime time?

摘要

3D printing (also known as additive manufacturing) has been in existence since the late 1980s but has seen rapid advancements more recently because of decreased cost, computer engineering, and expanding applications. Its growth in the manufacturing industry and consumer market has been explosive because it is now possible to print anything, from guns to clothing, from car parts to designer jewelry. 3D printing has also emerged in the medical field. The complex anatomy of the human body and its individual variances make the use of 3D printing ideally suited to allow surgeons to prepare for highly customized procedures. Currently, the use of 3D printing in medicine can be categorized into 3 applications: creating models for surgical planning, practicing, and teaching; creating implantable prosthetics; and biologic tissue engineering.