Additive Manufacturing in Personalized Medicine: Enhancing the Development of Custom Biomodels Through 3D Scanning and Digital Rigging

3D scanning technology and additive manufacturing techniques combined offer an innovative approach to creating personalized biomodels for medical applications. Biomodels, defined as mathematical, computational, or physical representations of a biological system, are increasingly being integrated into the design of medical devices, improving personalized medicine. Given its applications and growing interest, there is still a need to understand the challenges in manufacturing biomodels and a comprehensive methodology in the process of developing these 3D-scanned printed models. The objective of this paper is to investigate a fundamental methodology for developing biomodels to address complex clinical challenges, thereby enhancing precision and efficacy in medical practice. The methodology comprises a five-step process integrating 3D scanning, Computer Aided Design (CAD), Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM), Computer Aided Engineering (CAE), and the “Rigging” technique. The results highlight the problems and promising clinical applications for the discussed methodology, notably in the manufacture of biomodels and the simulation of pathological structures. The spastic hand, proximal radius fracture, and healthy calf models demonstrated suitability for real-world application and high fidelity to their original anatomical form.