Medical Training with 3D Printing

Medical Training with 3D Printing Medical Training with 3D Printing Stories about the 3D printing of organs are appearing in the media more frequently, but many dont realize how much of a factor 3D is becoming in the training of medical professionals. Printed charts and skeletons are proliferating in a way many feel can completely change the way doctors learn and even explain procedures. Its also becoming a more common part of preparation for surgeons. Here is a look at how its helping training and pre-planning. Before Surgery Scott Rader, head of medical solutions at 3D printing company Stratasys, likens it to being an athlete, saying you dont put someone up against a major league pitcher without practice. But the ballgame hes talking about is surgery. The 3D process here begins with a medical scan and that data is translated into printing. Under surgical preplanning, its to take the image files that we can generate in either two dimensions or three dimensions with CT or MRI and the n create as realistic phantoms as we can that take advantage of the natural operative evolution. He further explains thatthe process involvessynthesizing multiple senses to help the surgeon consider what they will do in surgery. 3D printed models allow surgeons to practice procedures before performing them on human patients. stellung Stratasys Rader says a great advantage of 3D printing is that it can use false color or false transparency to help physicians think about aspects such as what is neural tissue, what is a vein versus an artery, and so forth. It can enhance the visualization needed. Here, every time we go into the operating room as physicians, its challenging to really understand what youre gong to find when you open up that patient, he says. 3D printing can break down those barriers and do it more than just with visual clues. We can actually reproduce that anatomy so that you feel what the tissue feels like, whether its hard tissue or soft tissue and you can actually dis sect those models. Surgical Training Surgically speaking, throughout the history of training doctors, the most common method has been peer-to-peer or mentor-to-peer, using such elements as animal models and cadavers, says Rader. 3D printing changes this relationship because now, for example, you have the ability to replicate a patient with a complicated problem. Dr. Jason Koh, an orthopedic surgeon, also thinks thats a benefit ofthe 3D model for the doctor and also the patient. 3D printing allows you to notlage be stuck with this one type and to possibly help in understanding what youre dealing with, he says. You can also better explain the situation to the patient using these tools when they can hold something like this while you talk. They can see the situation. It can sometimes help ease a patients mind when they also have a better understanding of whats going on. Rader definitely sees areas of promise as well. Were at a point today where we can very, very closely simulate soft a nd hard tissues and where we can extend this technology in the future is to add wetness to the tissue, he says, also mentioning conductivity to simulate utilization of energy devices, such as radio frequency energy or ultrasound devices. Eric Butterman is an independent writer. Learn more about the latest technologies in 3D printing at ASMEs AM3D 2015. For Further Discussion3D printing allows you to not be stuck with this one type and to possibly help in understanding what youre dealing withDr. Jason Koh, orthopedic surgeon