EPlus3D

University of Central Florida is Working to Make 3D Printed Heart Models Readily Available

Formnext Germany

Share this Article

heartsDr. Dinender Singla is unquestionably a heart expert. The University of Central Florida professor is a Fellow of the American Heart Association and a Fellow of International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences, just to name a few of his honors. He has published over 70 peer-reviewed papers in prestigious scientific journals, has organized and chaired multiple conferences across the world, and otherwise contributed to the cardiovascular research field in undoubtedly lifesaving ways. It’s no surprise, then, that Dr. Singla is involved in one of the most important technological developments in cardiovascular health – 3D printing.

Specifically, Dr. Singla has been working on the development of customized 3D printed heart models to aid surgeons in complex pediatric procedures – like the surgery performed on little Ronan, a baby born with a severe heart defect. 20% of children with Ronan’s type of defect don’t survive, but thanks to a 3D printed model of the baby’s heart provided by Dr. Singla and his lab, doctors at the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children were able to plan out the delicate surgery before operating. Ronan is now a healthy, happy baby with a healthy heart.

“The goal is to give doctors a tool they can use that accurately reflects what they will be seeing when they go into surgery,” Dr. Singla said. “It can make for better outcomes.”

singla-548x365Stories like Ronan’s are becoming more common; just last week a baby in China was saved thanks to a 3D printed replica of his heart. Dr. Singla’s mission is to make sure that 3D printed heart models are readily available to doctors and surgeons, and his lab is currently seeking funding for the production workable models. Also involved in the UCF research is Dr. William DeCampli, a faculty member who is also a pediatric surgeon at Arnold Palmer.

“It’s pretty amazing work,” said Kaley Garner, a biomedical sciences and biotechnology major working in Dr. Singla’s lab. “Heart disease is such a big issue now for adults and children. I love that I get to make models that could help doctors prepare for surgery.”

heartprintThe work that Dr. Singla’s lab is doing demonstrates how quickly 3D printed surgical models are advancing. They’re becoming more complex, detailed, and customized not only for specific patients but for specific conditions. Different colors are used to highlight defects, and printing materials are adjusted depending on the type of problem – a softer material might be used to more realistically show an internal structural defect in the heart, while a harder polymer may be used to demonstrate an issue on the outside of the organ.

Dr. Singla is also working on research in the field of 3D bioprinting, which, as we all know, is advancing at remarkable rates.

“These are exciting times in bioengineering, which could eventually end the need for organ donors,” said Jessica Hellein, another student working in Dr. Singla’s lab. “Over the past 20 years, technology has improved rapidly, and it will be exciting to see where we are within the coming decades. There’s a long way to go, but projects like these are a start.”

You can see more about the project, and Ronan’s story, below. Discuss in the 3D Printed Heart Models forum over at 3DPB.com.

Share this Article


Recent News

Norwegian Oil Leader 3D Prints Critical Subsea Part

Sustainability in Manufacturing: Insights from 3D Printing Facilitator Fictiv’s 2023 Survey



Categories

3D Design

3D Printed Art

3D Printed Food

3D Printed Guns


You May Also Like

Featured

Analyzing True Sustainability in 3D Printing

Additive manufacturing (AM) has revolutionized the production landscape, enabling unprecedented levels of customization and complex design. However, with its rise, the focus on sustainability within AM has become essential. This...

Xometry Launches Dashboard Collaboration Tool for 3D Printing

3D printing platform Xometry (Nasdaq: XTMR) is expanding its focus on software to deliver added value for clients. A newly introduced order management dashboard aims to provide greater visibility across...

3D Printing Webinar and Event Roundup: July 23, 2023

This week’s webinar and event roundup is a little lighter, but there are still plenty of 3D printing offerings! Stratasys continues its U.S. tour, Markforged offers two more Demo Days,...

Xometry Bolsters AI Features Amid CEO Poll Indicating Rapid Adoption

AI-powered marketplace Xometry (Nasdaq: XMTR) announced today that it will extend its Xometry Instant Quoting Engine to include instant quoting of inserts, multi-part assemblies, and an expanded range of sheet-cutting...