Rapid Prototyping in Biomedical Applications: Advanced Scopes, Capabilities and Challenges

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Rapid prototyping (RP) is an advanced technique of fabricating a physical model, or complex assembly where computer-aided design (CAD) plays a significant role. The RP technique offers numerous advantages including providing information such as how a product will look like and/or perform, and in the first stage of the design and manufacturing cycle, allowing switches and improvements to be implemented earlier in the system. It acts quickly and reduces the risk of later/final stage costly errors. RP is considered to be an automated and cost-effective technique as it does not require special tools, involves minimal intervention of the operator, and minimizes material wastage. Different types of RP techniques are now commercially available and serving accordingly in many fields. By using rapid prototyping, engineers can produce and/or upgrade medical instruments that include surgical fasteners, scalpels, retractors, display systems, and so on. Tablets having a sustained drug release capability are also being manufactured by RP. Rehabilitation engineering also uses RP including the fabrication of biomedical implants and prostheses and craniofacial and maxillofacial surgeries. This chapter aims to provide an overview of rapid prototyping technology and various RP machines available commercially. This chapter also includes the applications of the RP technique in biomedical engineering focusing on the advanced scopes, capabilities, and challenges in the upcoming days.