3D PRINTING IN MEDICAL APPLICATION: AN EDUCATIONAL DESIGN PERSPECTIVE
Year: 2017
Editor: Berg, Arild; Bohemia, Erik; Buck, Lyndon; Gulden, Tore; Kovacevic, Ahmed; Pavel, Nenad
Author: Mirtaheri, Peyman; Guler, Evin; Gjřvaag, Terje
Series: E&PDE
Institution: 1: HiOA/TKD, Norway; 2: HiOA/HF, Norway
Section: Design Education Practice
Page(s): 176-181
ISBN: 978-1-904670-84-1
Abstract
Medical applications for 3D printing are expanding rapidly and this technology is expected to revolutionize health care. The application of 3D printing in medicine and healthcare can provide several benefits including: the customization and personalization of medical products, drugs, and equipment. Normally, one have to either draw an object in a CAD program, download or optimize a digital model that is generated by Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound imaging (US), 3D scanning, or computer tomography (CT) to a 3D printing process. Although 3D printers could be regarded as an engineering and designer’s tool, a broader aspect of the technology and its effects on motivation for the students, in particular for medical applications, has not been reviewed previously. One would question the level of integrating such a device into engineering student curriculum, and how would that gain the level of students’ knowledge to make faster prototypes and examine ideas in a faster pace. In this paper, different cases with medical applications using 3D printers are elaborated, and the barriers and controversies of 3D printing and its related processes in light of two medical applications in addition to its educational effects are discussed. A workflow that can be considered for processing any medical applications with 3D printing is also suggested. Shortly, our experiences with the students are elaborated on achievements of their goal through a systematic process by using 3D printers in medical applications.
Keywords: Medical Devices, Additive technology, and eduction