FDM technology for the prototyping of polymer stents

Abstract Fused deposition modelling (FDM) technology allows the use of a wide range of thermally processable biocompatible or biodegradable polymers. Biomedical research is currently focusing on the development of 3D printed stents that can be biodegradable, as well as drugeluting. In this proof-of-concept study, a cylindrical substrate was integrated into a commercial FDM printer to establish a process for stent printing. Stents printed on a planar substrate were compared with those printed on the cylindrical substrate. The typical stepped structure along the stent struts on the planar print bed caused by layered printing is avoided with the cylindrical substrate.