Table 1. Medical applications of 3D printing.

Application	Printing technology	Materials	Customization	Cost*
Implantable medical devices	Powder bed fusion, directed energy deposition	Metal (titanium alloy or CoCr alloy), polymer	Yes	Medium to high
Bio-absorbable implants	Material extrusion	PLA, PCL, PCL/β-TCP	Yes	Medium to high
Prosthesis and orthosis	Vat photopolymerization, powder bed fusion	Polymer	Yes/no	Medium to low
Surgical guides	Powder bed fusion, vat photopolymerization	Polymer	Yes	Low
Surgical planning and simulations	Vat photopolymerization	Polymer	Yes	Low
Education	Vat photopolymerization, sheet lamination, material jetting	Polymer	Yes/no	Low

^*High: Over 10,000 USD; Medium: about 5,000 USD; Low: less than 1,000 USD. This is relative value. It depends on the situation of each country. CoCr, cobalt chrome; PLA, polylactic acid; PCL, polycaprolactone; β-TCP, beta-tricalcium phosphate