Additive manufacturing technologies for biomedical applications

Additive manufacturing (AM) technologies have found extensive use for a variety of biomedical applications, thanks to the possibility of controlling the macroscopic shape and internal architecture of the manufactured objects. Different materials can be processed by adopting the correct AM technology, to produce structures with versatile morphologies and properties. Here, an introduction to the AM processes currently used in the biomedical field to manufacture materials and obtain 3D printed structures is given. For each technology, the working principle, the types of materials that can be manufactured, the achievable resolution, and representative examples in the biomedical field will be presented. Attendees will learn the basic principles of AM technologies and will gain a wide overview and knowledge on the possibilities offered by AM, as well as tools helpful for an appropriate technology selection for applications of their interest.