From CAD to Care: A Review of Additive Manufacturing Technologies in Healthcare

Abstract

Additive Manufacturing (AM), or 3D printing, is catalyzing a paradigm shift in the healthcare industry, moving from a one-size-fits-all model to one of mass personalization. This review provides a comprehensive overview of this transformation. The purpose is to survey the current landscape of AM technologies, including vat photopolymerization and powder bed fusion, and their clinical applications. The principal findings synthesized from a broad literature review highlight AM's established role in creating patient-specific implants, surgical guides, and anatomical models, and its emerging potential in pharmaceuticals and bioprinting. Major contributions include the identification of key future trends like 4D printing and point-of-care manufacturing, alongside a critical discussion of regulatory, material, and quality control challenges. This paper concludes that AM is a foundational technology for the future of personalized medicine, though its full integration requires overcoming significant technical and regulatory hurdles.