Printing@Clinic: From Medical Models to Organ Implants

Since 1989, three-dimensional (3D) printing has developed rapidly in biomedical engineering because it is individually customizable. By printing medical products at clinics, this powerful tool can be used by doctors, which will enhance the response to surgery and increase the creative freedom of surgeons. In this article, we reviewed the progress of 3D printing in biomedicine with particular emphasis on the types of 3D printing methods that are most suitable for the clinical application, and proposed the concept of Printing@clinic. The four levels of Printing@clinic are discussed, from surgical implants to direct printing during surgery. Three major applications of Printing@clinic, which could be rapidly implemented in the clinical setting, are fabricating prosthesis to assist with surgeries, printing 3D implantable scaffolds, and bioprinting for tissue repair. We believe that Printing@clinic will be an attractive service in the decades to come.