Medical applications of biomaterials: The case of design and manufacture of orthopedic corsets made of polylactic acid by additive manufacturing

At present, biomaterials are used in several sectors of medicine such as implant manufacturing, tissue engineering, orthopedic and prosthetic aids, drug delivery systems and many others. The use of biomaterials is increasingly related to the additive manufacturing (AM) of various medical devices and aids. Biomaterials and their use in medicine are important not only in terms of their biocompatibility and direct effect on the human organism, but also in terms of their biodegradability, processability and non-toxicity to the environment either during their production or during their processing after use. Bioplastics of the type Polylactic acid (PLA) appears to be a suitable biomaterials for use in a variety of medical applications in conjunction with an AM process. For this reason, this article discusses 1) description and use of biomaterials in medical applications 2) AM and biomaterials 3) key properties and uses of PLA bioplastics in medicine and 4) the specific AM of an orthopedic corset made of PLA and its benefits. © 2019 Trans Tech Publications Ltd, Switzerland.