Additive Manufacturing and Precision Engineering in Medical Devices

Abstract

This review shows how the integration of additive manufacturing with precision engineering is changing the face of medical device development. We have covered the main AM processes – FDM, SLA, SLS, SLM and EBM – and their role in everything from prosthetics to dental and surgical equipment. The paper examines the metals, polymers and composites that are essential for performance and biocompatibility. While there are challenges to be had with regulation and scaling, the advantages in efficiency and design are hard to ignore. With new trends in AI and bio printing on the horizon, the outlook for intelligent, patient-specific innovations is very promising.