Development of Biomedical Implants through Additive Manufacturing: A Review

Additive manufacturing (AM) is an expeditiously developing technology for the manufacturing of biomedical implants. It provides an excellent and broad opportunity for the bio-mimicry of desired complex profiles of bodily implants because of its customized fabrication, lower manufacturing time and cost. Metal AM of biomedical implants has increased many medical practitioner’s attention because of its increased fatigue strength and excellent corrosion resistance properties, patient-specific implants for a speedy recovery, and it is found to be a suitable alternative to amputation. But there are some issues related to metal AM that are desired dimensional accuracy, preferred surface quality, strength, etc. Based on the said shortcomings, the following properties are chosen for the present review article; mechanical and metallurgical behavior. The main objective is to review the above-stated properties for 3D printed biomedical implants manufactured through laser additive manufacturing (LAM), friction stir additive manufacturing (FS-AM), paste extruding deposition (PED) and selective laser melting (SLM) techniques and its future scope of AM processes.