3D Printing in Gastroenterology: An Opportunity for Innovation

Additive manufacturing (AM), more commonly known as 3-dimensional (3D) printing, is a production technique that has increasingly been used in clinical gastroenterology and gastrointestinal endoscopy. At present, it's used in the development of endoscopic training models, 3D biomimetic anatomic models mostly in the therapeutic endoscopy, and proof-of-concept bioprosthetics. While there has been considerable progress in the development of both esophageal and biliary stent 3D-printed technology, none of these devices have been made commercially available following human clinical trials. This review will summarize the history of 3D-printed medical devices in gastroenterology, outline their current applications, discuss challenges, and highlight future opportunities, especially in regard to their use in under-resourced health settings.