3D PRINTING IN HEALTHCARE: APPLICATIONS IN DIAGNOSTICS AND TREATMENT

Abstract

Additive manufacturing, commonly referred to as three-dimensional (3D) printing, has emerged as a clinically significant technology in modern healthcare, enabling the production of patient-specific anatomical models, surgical implants, personalized pharmaceuticals, and bioprinted tissue constructs. By translating digital imaging data into precise physical objects, 3D printing offers a level of individualization that conventional manufacturing cannot readily achieve. This chapter surveys its principal applications across the diagnostic and therapeutic landscape of contemporary medicine, drawing on a range of clinical and research evidence. Current limitations related to material biocompatibility, regulatory governance, and equitable access are examined, and prospective directions for the field are briefly considered.