Cleft lip and/or palate (CLP) is the leading craniofacial anomaly affecting 1 in every 500-700 births. Gaining hands-on experience in cleft surgery can be difficult due to limited access within the infant oral cavity and the delicate tissues of the velum. Even minor errors may lead to complications with serious consequences for the patient. Globally, it is estimated that 250,000 infants are born with cleft lip and/or palate in low resource countries each year and it is estimated that a significant proportion are not repaired.
Continue reading “ReCleft is a reusable training simulator for surgeons”Clinicians make 3D printed, patient-specific models with help from GE Healthcare and Formlabs
Anatomical models that allow the combination of hands-on and visual communication and coordination amongst radiologists, surgeons, trainees, and patients around the world.
Historically, software designed to allow manual preparation of image data into 3D printable files has been labor intensive, requiring hours of work. Using the GE Healthcare Advantage Workstationtm (AW) advanced visualization tools, specifically designed for the medical community, radiologists are able to produce models of normal and pathological anatomy using automation techniques that will speed up the pre-3D printing preparation work by taking advantage of the AW’s diagnostic workflow. This can help to reduce the time to create segmented STL and OBJ files required for 3D models from hours to minutes. By bringing together all imaging techniques, AW boosts productivity across all modalities (CT, MR, PET, SPECT, Interventional), and presents a consistent user interface for over 55 clinical applications.
Radiologists specializing in cardiology, oncology, orthopedics, neurology, and other areas will use an exclusive GE Healthcare/Formlabs bundle, which includes GE Healthcare’s AW and Formlabs hardware plus materials. Formlabs will include a GE Healthcare exclusive service offering for training to enable our radiology customers in North America and Europe to ‘get started’ in printing anatomical models onsite at the hospital in two days.
Combined with technology from Formlabs, including the Form 3B printer, PreForm print preparation software, and over 20 proprietary resins with unique properties, radiologists and biomedical engineers will be able to serve various surgical specialties with a single workflow. Further time savings are experienced with new Formlabs features, including the ability to start and monitor prints remotely, as well as the introduction of Light Touch Supports that allow for nearly immediate support removal. Formlabs materials, including biocompatible resins, are made at its in-house, US-based, ISO 13485 certified facility.
3D printing is primarily used to manufacture orthopedic implants and guide surgical cutting, and peer-reviewed research on potential impact in patient care has expanded exponentially. Recent industry and regulatory advancements such as the establishment of clinical guidelines, 3D printing reimbursement tracking codes, and the integration of technology and software are all expected to support the widespread adoption of point-of-care 3D printing in hospitals.
“When time is of the essence, GE Healthcare solutions help clinical imaging specialists get the diagnosis correct quickly and push the critical information they create into the hands of the broader care team,” said R. Scott Rader, general manager of GE Healthcare Additive Solutions. “At the same time, patients in the information age are playing a more critical role every year in their care, but simply presenting imaging data to patients as grayscale ‘slices’ through the body can create more confusion than answers. The virtual reality renderings clinical imagers see every day in radiology reading rooms on AW can now be exported via AW 3D Suite in seconds, imported into Formlabs PreForm, and printed right at the site of care to add the sense of touch to what members of the care team see. This first step with Formlabs can help break down time and cost barriers to adoption of on-premises printing while empowering richer communication amongst care teams and their patients.”
“Formlabs is proud to collaborate with GE Healthcare, a true pioneer and leader in medical imaging, as both organizations share an aim to support the practice of medicine and the pursuit of precision health. This collaboration represents an important milestone for the medical 3D printing community and will hopefully serve as a catalyst for its growth. Our clinical customers should be able to serve more patients, more efficiently, with trusted, reliable, and intuitive technologies. We are excited to see how this collaboration and other innovations may lead to improved quality of care and patient satisfaction, as well as financial benefits for healthcare systems,” said Gaurav Manchanda, Director of Healthcare at Formlabs.
The possible role of 3D computed tomography models in Thoracic Surgery
by Professor Franscesco Puma, Chief of Thoracic Surgery Department. Full Professor in Thoracic Surgery, Università degli studi di Perugia
We present our experience in the use of the 3D computed tomography – based template in the surgical planning of complex procedures in Thoracic Surgery. We used this approach in two different clinical settings: Tracheal surgery and surgery for extended chest wall tumors.
In the latter, this approach made it possible to obtain an ideal customization of the chest wall prosthesis, precisely adapted to the postoperative defect of the chest wall.
The 3D model of the trachea, larynx and carina, allowed us to ascertain the extent of the presumed airway segment to resect and the possible need for additional surgical release maneuvers.
Tilburg hospital adopts innovative system for 3D printing surgical models
Tilburg hospital adopts innovative system for 3D printing surgical models.3D printed anatomical models can now be found in many hospitals all over the world, specifically made to prepare surgeons for very unusual and highly complex surgeries. Continue reading “Tilburg hospital adopts innovative system for 3D printing surgical models”
Next Generation of Fully Personalised Bionics & Smart Prosthetics
Next Generation of Fully Personalised Bionics & Smart Prosthetics. Reconfigurable Machine for the new Additive and Subtractive Manufacturing of next generation fully personalized bionics and smart prosthetics aims to develop a new technological platform integrating cutting edge innovations in design and manufacturing in order to deliver better medtech products and services for an improved quality of life. Continue reading “Next Generation of Fully Personalised Bionics & Smart Prosthetics”
3-D printing is rapidly becoming a part of surgical planning: 300 prints, 16 specialties and counting
3-D printing is rapidly becoming a part of surgical planning. Since July 2013, Boston Children’s Hospital’s 3-D printing service, part of the Simulator Program, has received about 200 requests from 16 departments around the hospital. It’s generated a total of about 300 prints, most of them replicating parts of the body to be operated on. Continue reading “3-D printing is rapidly becoming a part of surgical planning: 300 prints, 16 specialties and counting”
Ultimaker, Philips Partner to Produce 3D Printed MRIs (Video)
The international society of medical professionals in the field of Magnetic Resonance held their 23rd annual meeting in the prestigious Metro Toronto Convention Centre in the beginning of June. Once a year, medical professionals from all over the world gather to share ideas, present workshops and educate one another to further this particular field of research with ISMRM. More than 7000 experts in the field attend this week long conference to fuse technology and experience into meaningful progress. Continue reading “Ultimaker, Philips Partner to Produce 3D Printed MRIs (Video)”
3D Printed Heart Model Used in Infant Heart Surgery in India
As I’ve learned covering 3D printing in the medical sector, performing heart surgery becomes even more difficult when it involves the life of an infant. Not only are there a lack of physical models dedicated to such surgeries, but even the chest cavity of such a small patient itself is extremely difficult to navigate. Continue reading “3D Printed Heart Model Used in Infant Heart Surgery in India”
AstroPrint, NIH 3D Print Exchange partner up for bioscientific research
We’ve seen some truly phenomenal applications of 3D printing in the healthcare arena, where 3D printed medical models have shortened times in the operating room, enhanced efficiency and precision in procedures and in training, and directly saved lives and even a spleen and a kidney. Continue reading “AstroPrint, NIH 3D Print Exchange partner up for bioscientific research”