Transforming Surgical Planning and Procedures through Synergistic use of Additive Manufacturing, Advanced Materials and Artificial Intelligence: Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract

Additive manufacturing (AM) is a powerful approach in healthcare to augment the functionalities of patient-specific medical products and surgical tools. One such area of the healthcare industry is surgical planning and procedures, where the benefits of AM can revolutionize the industry. AM technologies, commonly known as three-dimensional (3D) printing, can change the conventional surgical methodology from “open-detect-operate-close” mode to “detect-open-operate-close” mode. However, the use of 3D printing in surgical planning has been hampered due to the limited availability of literature reports thoroughly examining the advantages and drawbacks of this technology in clinical settings. Hence, this review explores the widespread use of additive manufacturing, multi-materials, metamaterials, 4D printing, and artificial intelligence in surgical planning for complex surgical procedures in spine, orthopedics, dentistry, cardiology, gynecology, and neurology. This review also focuses on meticulously adjusting the lattice structure of metamaterial during 3D printing to achieve specific mechanical properties. It further delves into 4D printing to achieve dynamic capabilities in 3D printed models for better integration with host tissue. Furthermore, it highlights the key aspects of combining AM with Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) models in healthcare to automate 3D model production, reducing human intervention. Overall, this comprehensive review offers bioengineers, clinical scientists, and clinicians a platform to explore AM and its potential for addressing challenges in pre- and post-surgical operations, providing valuable insights for advancements in biomedical engineering and healthcare.