The website of the Clinical Services Journal

3D printing: making rapid advances

The use of 3D printing technologies is already enabling surgeons to better prepare for surgical interventions, through the use of accurate modelling. SUZANNE CALLANDER reports on the benefits that this technology can offer today, and what it may offer in the future.

3D printing has been around since the mid 1980s, with recent growth in its use emering as a result of patent expiration. The technology first entered the medical field around 20 years ago when it found uses in craniomaxillofacial and orthopaedic surgery. Today, it is starting to make rapid advances. In cardiology, for example, it is now being used to create very accurate 3D models of patients’ hearts, which is giving surgical teams an accurate and patient-specific teaching model to allow for pre-operative optimisation of each procedure.

At the most recent EuroEcho-Imaging, an annual meeting of the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI), a branch of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), Dr Peter Verschueren, of Materialise NV in Belgium, a company that produces software and services for biomedical engineering, explained how 3D printed heart technology could reduce the number of heart surgeries and time spent in intensive care for children with congenital heart disease.

An accurate 3D image of the patient’s heart results in better planning of a procedure before the patient goes into the operating theatre.

Log in or register FREE to read the rest

This story is Premium Content and is only available to registered users. Please log in at the top of the page to view the full text. If you don't already have an account, please register with us completely free of charge.
Register

Upcoming Events

Central Sterilising Club - Annual Scientific Meeting 2024

Crowne Plaza at Gerrard’s Cross
15th April 2024 – 16th April 2024

DECON UK 2024

National Conference Centre, Birmingham
17th April 2024

Infection Prevention & Control

National Conference Centre, Birmingham
23rd - 24th April 2024

Theatres & Decontamination Conference 2024

Coventry Building Society Arena
16th May 2024

The AfPP Roadshow - Birmingham

Millennium Point, Birmingham
18th May 2024

The AfPP Roadshow - Exeter

University of Exeter
22nd June 2024

Access the latest issue of Clinical Services Journal on your mobile device together with an archive of back issues.

Download the FREE Clinical Services Journal app from your device's App store

Upcoming Events

Central Sterilising Club - Annual Scientific Meeting 2024

Crowne Plaza at Gerrard’s Cross
15th April 2024 – 16th April 2024

DECON UK 2024

National Conference Centre, Birmingham
17th April 2024

Infection Prevention & Control

National Conference Centre, Birmingham
23rd - 24th April 2024

Theatres & Decontamination Conference 2024

Coventry Building Society Arena
16th May 2024

The AfPP Roadshow - Birmingham

Millennium Point, Birmingham
18th May 2024

The AfPP Roadshow - Exeter

University of Exeter
22nd June 2024

Access the latest issue of Clinical Services Journal on your mobile device together with an archive of back issues.

Download the FREE Clinical Services Journal app from your device's App store

Step Communications Ltd, Step House, North Farm Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3DR
Tel: 01892 779999
www.step-communications.com
© 2024 Step Communications Ltd. Registered in England. Registration Number 3893025