12. A Way Forward

The last one decade has witnessed a significant impetus towards patient-specific solutions of biomedical implant prototypes. The discussion in preceding chapters emphasize that multidisciplinary efforts are required to establish such patient-specific implants. Finite element (FE) modelling is used to predict the site-specific mechanical properties, which in-turn requires 3D reconstructed models of macroscopic biological entities based on CT/MRI scan data. The importance of low temperature additive manufacturing processes in fabrication of the patient-specific implants have been particularly highlighted. Also the major challenges related to the design, development and performance limiting properties of the scaffolds are discussed in this chapter. It has been emphasized that the optimization of the shape and size of the pores in the scaffolds is a challenging task in order to obtain the desired in vivo cytocompatibility property. The chapter closes with the author’s perspective on developing biomedical research programs leading to device/implant fabrication.