Different additive manufacturing technologies have proven effective and useful in remote medicine and emergency or disaster situations. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) disease, caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus, has had a huge impact on our society, including in relation to the continuous supply of personal protective equipment (PPE). The aim of the study is to give a detailed overview of 3D-printed PPE devices and provide practical information regarding the manufacturing and further design process, as well as describing the potential risks of using them. Open-source models of a half-face mask, safety goggles, and a face-protecting shield are evaluated, considering production time, material usage, and cost. Estimations have been performed with fused filament fabrication (FFF) and selective laser sintering (SLS) technology, highlighting the material characteristics of polylactic acid (PLA), polyamide, and a two-compound silicone. Spectrophotometry measurements of transparent PMMA samples were performed to determine their functionality as goggles or face mask parts. All the tests were carried out before and after the tetra-acetyl-ethylene-diamine (TAED)-based disinfection process. The results show that the disinfection has no significant effect on the mechanical and structural stability of the used polymers; therefore, 3D-printed PPE is reusable. For each device, recommendations and possible means of development are explained. The files of the modified models are provided. SLS and FFF additive manufacturing technology can be useful tools in PPE development and small-series production, but open-source models must be used with special care.

Additive manufacturing technologies are dynamically developing, strongly affecting almost all fields of industry and medicine. The appearance of electrically conductive polymers has had a great impact on the prototyping process of different electrical components in the case of upper limb prosthetic development. The widely used FFF 3D printing technology mainly uses PLA (polylactic acid) and ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) based composites, and despite their presence in the field, a detailed, critical characterization and comparison of them has not been performed yet. Our aim was to characterize two PLA and ABS based carbon composites in terms of electrical and mechanical behavior, and extend the observations with a structural and signal transfer analysis. The measurements were carried out by changing the different printing parameters, including layer resolution, printing orientation and infill density. To determine the mechanical properties, static and dynamic tests were conducted. The electrical characterization was done by measuring the resistance and signal transfer characteristics. Scanning electron microscopy was used for the structural analysis. The results proved that the printing parameters had a significant effect on the mechanical and electrical characteristics of both materials. As a major novelty, it was concluded that the ABS carbon composite has more favorable behavior in the case of additive manufacturing of electrical components of upper limb prosthetics, and they can be used as moving, rotating parts as well.

Bone fractures pose a serious challenge for the healthcare system worldwide. A total of 17.5% of these fractures occur in the distal radius. Traditional cast materials commonly used for treatment have certain disadvantages, including a lack of mechanical and water resistance, poor hygiene, and odors. Three-dimensional printing is a dynamically developing technology which can potentially replace the traditional casts. The aim of the study was to examine and compare the traditional materials (plaster cast and fiberglass cast) with Polylactic Acid (PLA) and PLA–CaCO₃ composite materials printed using Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) technology and to produce a usable cast of each material. The materials were characterized by tensile, flexural, Charpy impact, Shore D hardness, flexural fatigue, and variable load cyclic tests, as well as an absorbed water test. In addition, cost-effectiveness was evaluated and compared. The measured values for tensile strength and flexural strength decreased with the increase in CaCO₃ concentration. In the fatigue tests, the plaster cast and the fiberglass cast did not show normal fatigue curves; only the 3D-printed materials did so. Variable load cyclic tests showed that traditional casts cannot hold the same load at the same deflection after a higher load has been used. During these tests, the plaster cast had the biggest relative change (−79.7%), compared with −4.8 % for the 3D-printed materials. The results clearly showed that 3D-printed materials perform better in both static and dynamic mechanical tests; therefore, 3D printing could be a good alternative to customized splints and casts in the near future.

Currently, 3D printing is an affordable technology for industry, healthcare, and individuals. Understanding the mechanical properties and thermoplastic behaviour of the composites is critical for the users. Our results give guidance for certain target groups including professionals in the field of additive manufacturing for biomedical components with in-depth characterisation of the examined commercially available ABS and PLA carbon-based composites. The study aimed to characterize these materials in terms of thermal behaviour and structure. The result of the heating-cooling loops is the thermal hysteresis effect of Ohmic resistance with its accommodation property in the temperature range of 20–84 °C for ESD-ABS and 20–72 °C for ESD-PLA. DSC-TGA measurements showed that the carbon content of the examined ESD samples is ~10–20% (m/m) and there is no significant difference in the thermodynamic behaviour of the basic ABS/PLA samples and their ESD compounds within the temperature range typically used for 3D printing. The results support the detailed design process of 3D-printed electrical components and prove that ABS and PLA carbon composites are suitable for prototyping and the production of biomedical sensors.

Recently, additive manufacturing has become increasingly available for personalized biomedical applications; still, the material science is one of the primary contentions. Polyamide (PA) has several beneficial characteristics, including mechanical strength, biocompatibility, and flexibility, making it an excellent candidate for biomedical applications. Based on that, this systematic review aims to summarize and critically evaluate the state‐of‐the‐art knowledge of 3D printed polyamide and its composites with respect to material sciences and biomedical applications. Medline, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases were searched for biomedical applications of additively manufactured polyamide. Overall, 1889 papers were screened, and 114 articles were finally selected to be included in this review. This work consists of three sections aiming at a comprehensive biomedical evaluation of the material, starting with mechanical characteristics of polyamide and its composites, considering distinct 3D printing technologies, followed by tissue engineering, drug delivery, and personalized biomedical solutions. Finally, biomedical educational and patient information applications are discussed with insights into future medical applications. Based on the results, polyamide and its composites are suggested to be excellent candidates for biomedical applications. However, this systematic approach highlighted the distinct need for thorough mechanical analysis and clinical trials based on universal standards for future biomedical applications.