3D Printing for Biomedical Engineering: Additive Manufacturing Processes, Properties, and Applications

3D Printing for Biomedical Engineering: Additive Manufacturing Processes, Properties, and Applications combines cutting-edge research developments with fundamental concepts related to processing, properties, and applications of advanced additive manufacturing technology in the medical field. State-of-the-art 3D bioprinting techniques such as the manufacturing of mini-organs for new drug testing as an alternative to animal testing are covered, as are reverse engineering techniques for the improvement of additive manufactured biomedical products. The book starts with chapters introducing readers to currently available additive manufacturing techniques for biomedical prototypes, along with design, development, process, and parameter considerations for these methods. Following chapters cover the mechanical, thermal, electrical, and optical properties of 3D printed biomedical prototypes. The next section of the book discusses 3D printing in different biomedical fields, such as in heart surgery, intervertebral disc implants, dentistry, facial reconstructive surgery, oral surgery, spinal surgery, and more. The book concludes with a section outlining immediate and future challenges in the field as well as related environmental and ethical issues.