APPLICATION OF ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY FOR MANUFACTURING MEDICAL IMPLANTS: A REVIEW

With the advancement of technology every field of work is becoming more and more inter- related and inter-dependant. So the fields of CAD/C AM and healthcare are no exception to this. As it is said that human body is a machine, with every passing day, its wear and tear takes place and also due to some trauma/accidents it is necessary to have certain bones/limbs to be replaced, or there can be birth defects. A large number and variety of medical implants, prostheses, and surgical instruments are required to reconstruct or correct lost, damaged, deformed, and degenerated limbs, tissues and teeth. So CAD/CAM can be effectively us ed for the above purpose in the field of Orthopedics (medical field dealing with bones, limb s etc), dentistry. Orthodontic and maxillofacial implants, as well as distraction osteogenesis devices are used for correcting facial and oral deformities.