Three-dimensional (3D) printing and its applications for aortic diseases

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Technology
• Cardiovascular Surgery

Background:

• Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology allows for the creation of customized prototypes from digital models.
• The field is rapidly expanding, particularly within personalized medicine due to its customization capabilities.
• 3D printing is increasingly relevant in healthcare for creating patient-specific solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss the applications of 3D printing in the treatment of aortic diseases.
• To highlight the use of 3D printing in surgical planning, training, and device fabrication.
• To explore the potential of 3D printing for personalized implantable devices.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature and applications of 3D printing in cardiovascular medicine.
• Discussion of how 3D printing facilitates hands-on interaction with complex patient anatomy.
• Exploration of prototyping capabilities for implantable devices and pre-procedural simulation.

Main Results:

• 3D printing enables the creation of patient-specific anatomical models for surgical planning and training.
• It allows for the prototyping of custom devices tailored to individual patient anatomy.
• The technology offers potential for creating personalized implantable devices, such as grafts.

Conclusions:

• 3D printing is a valuable tool in managing aortic diseases, aiding in planning, training, and device development.
• There is significant potential to expand its use for personalized implantable devices.
• Future studies are needed to validate the impact of 3D printing on patient outcomes for complex aortic conditions.