For your discussion, I am including below links to news item (and videos) detailing how doctors and hospitals are developing models of patients’ hearts using 3-D printing technology to help them better prepare for surgical procedures. Using 3-D printing, their goal is to create an online database of 3-D printed heart from patients with congenital heart defects, which will help standardize the process of printing hearts.

3-D printing technology is offering a revolutionary way to develop to pursue new product development in all industrial settings. Back in 2014 when I was doing my clinical research sabbatical fellowship at NIH, 3-D printing application were being explored in prosthetic devices as well. Lately, these 3D-printable prosthetics are changing the face of medicine. Consumer 3D printing is leading to a “DIY” assistive devices revolution.

Provide your opinion on what your learned from these news items. In your discussion, you may include your insights on how else can 3-D printing be used in medical care and on how manufacturers in other industries are now using, or can use, this product development technology.

Here are two links you will need to use.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-3d-print…

https://3dprint.nih.gov/collections/prosthetics