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.”
“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.”
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.