Introduction of Medical Three-Dimensional Printing in Rhode Island

Since the early 2000s, three-dimensional (3D) printing has become a well-rounded, evolving technology which has begun to revolutionize healthcare. 3D printing enables rapid creation and manufacture of individual patient models from original designs or medical imaging data. These models can be used for surgical planning, procedural training for residents and medical students, and the design and manufacture of surgical instruments, implants and prostheses. Current availability of this advanced technology at the Lifespan 3D Printing Lab permits Rhode Island physicians to utilize 3D printing in multiple, diverse settings to help improve their medical practice and optimize healthcare outcomes. This article describes three case-based examples to demonstrate varies used of 3D printing in Medicine.