3D Prototyping: Technology and Applications for CHD

“3D Printing” is being recognised as one of the most transformative of modern technological developments. It adds an exciting new dimension to visualization and interpretation of medical imaging data, and opens up new vistas in innovation and personalized therapeutics across the spectrum of medical disciplines. There are numerous novel and powerful applications for such technology in cardiovascular imaging. It is important for cardiovascular imaging specialists to stay abreast with how 3D Printing technology works and how it is poised to dramatically change the way we interact with medical images. This chapter provides an overview of the science behind 3D printing, stepwise process of creation of 3D models from imaging datasets, and real-world examples of clinical applications of 3D printing technology.