The original role of RP was to confirm the shape and feel of concept design, but innovations in RP now allow for the development of sophisticated medical devices such as catheters, stents, drug delivery systems, syringes and cardio-vascular devices, and more. RP has moved beyond medical devices, as surgeons now regularly use RP models to brainstorm strategies for surgeries. This book presents new uses for rapid prototyping in state-of-the-art medical applications.
Bopaya Bidanda is the Ernest E. Roth Professor and Chairman of the Department of Industrial Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh. His research is in the area of manufacturing systems with a special focus on group technology, reverse engineering, cellular manufacturing, lean manufacturing, human issues in manufacturing, product development, and manufacturing modernization.
Paulo Bartolo is Professor of Advanced Manufacturing Processes at the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria (Portugal), Adjunct Professor at Queensland University of Technology (Australia), Visiting Professor at Nanyang University (Singapore), and Professor of Biomaterials (Catedra UNESCO) at the University of Habana (Cuba). He is a CIRP (The International Academy of Production Engineering) member, Vice-Chairman of the CIRP Scientific Technical Committee on Electro-Physical and Chemical Processes, GARPA (Global Alliance of Rapid Prototyping Associations) Portuguese Representative a
nd Member of the Direction Board of the International Society of Biomanufacturing, Scientific advisor of the Research Institute in Biofabrication (BIOFABRIS) funded by the Brazilian Government and regional coordinator of the working group of Rapid Manufacturing Platform.
