40 INNOVATION & TECH TODAY|SUMMER 2019
HealthTech
Presented by
Therefore,carefulplanningmustbedone
beforeanoperationsothatthesurgeon’s
everymovement and incision is precisely
performed.
Typically,surgeonsplanforthesecomplex
proceduresbystudyingimagesor3D
renderingsona screengeneratedfrom
computedtomography(CT)ormagnetic
resonanceimaging(MRI)data.Though
useful,3Drenderingscan’toffersurgeonsany
kindoftactileinteraction,whichcanbe
invaluableinplanningforanypotential
complicationsthatmightariseduringthe
procedure.However,withprintedmodels
basedon3Drenderings,surgeonscan get a
farbetter,morehands-onlook.
Forexample,a full-sizebodypartcanbe
printedusingtransparentorflexiblematerials
tohelpsurgeonsseeandfeelitsinternal
structuresandeventrainonit withsurgical
toolsandmedicaldevices.Desiredsections
canbeenlargedandprintedseparatelyto
studythetiny,butcrucialanatomical
structuresthatrequireextracarefulattention.
Andtheprintscanbecomea usefulvisualaid
tohelpinconversationswithpatients,
caregivers,andotherhealthcareprofessionals.
PhoenixChildren’sHospitalinArizonahas
printedover 260 heartstodatethathave
helpedtosavethelivesofchildrenbornwith
congenitalheartdefects.Theheartshave
helpedinsurgicalplanning,aswellasmedical
educationandfamilyconsultation.
PrintTwoand Call Me in the
Morning
Whiledrugsareoftentoutedasa panacea
fora greatnumberofhealthproblems,the
truthisthattheydon’talwayswork.Even
worse,drugsthatdon’tworkcanstillcause
sideeffects.Forthisreasonandothers– such
asfinances,unclearinstructions,ora
confusingnumberofpills– patientsarenot
takingtheirmedicationswhenthey’re
supposedto.Consequently,patientsaren’t
gettinghealthier,andmedicationnon-
complianceiscostingourhealthcaresystem
billionsofdollarsinincreasedcosts.
Somepatientsdon’tadheretotheir
medication because they simply haveHow 3D Printing is Transforming Healthcare One Layer at a Time
(Top)Anexampleofa 3D-printedheart.(Middle/Bottom)Insteadofanitchyplastercast,a breathable,
lightweight, and sturdy splint could be printed on demand to help immobilize an arm or foot.