Since announcing the Center of Excellence less than a month ago, the Stratasys-sponsored research center has already proved to offer immense value to the medical industry. Working together with the University at Buffalo’s Clinical and Translational Research Center (CTRC) and Kaleida Health’s Vascular Institute, physicians stationed at the Jacobs Institute have began working with Stratasys’ PolyJet 3D printing technology to develop treatment plans for endangering vascular issues, which include life-threatening health issues such as aneurysms, stroke, and blood clots.
Using CT and MRI scan data, physicians have been able 3D print patient-specific models, which has enabled them to generate sound treatment plans prior to the operation, and also to show the patient exactly how the treatment will be performed. Patient-specific 3D printed models allow the Jacobs Institute team to test out potential operational theories, and can also help inform physicians on potential complications before the patient is under time constraints while on the operating table.
“3D printing is valuable in planning complex procedures with a team. Without it, we prepare for complications on a theoretical basis,” said Dr. Vijay Iyer, an interventional cardiologist. “Many times, despite the best theoretical planning, we are faced with circumstances where we don’t know what to do.”
Stratasys has also provided medical researchers at the Jacobs Institute’s Center of Excellence with a newfound and efficient method for surgical training. Thanks to the 3D printed vascular models, rare conditions that were once deemed “untrainable” can now be physically examined, allotting physicians the opportunity to develop surgical skills within a no-risk environment. Not only are these vascular models more readily accessible and cost-effective than the traditional—and slightly medieval—method of training on human or animal cadavers, they also mimic the live feeling of tissues in a much more realistic fashion.
“3D vascular models represent a new paradigm for training the next generation of doctors. This paradigm includes surgical and endovascular simulation and skills evaluation before they are allowed to treat patients,” said Dr. L. Nelson Hopkins, the founder of the Jacobs Institute and the Gates Vascular Institute.
Lastly, the partnership with Stratasys has enabled the Jacobs Institute researchers to perform all experimentation and training in-house, effectively eliminating costly and time-consuming reliance on external machine shops to produce their medical components. As the Jacobs Institute continues working closely with the 3D printing pioneering company Stratasys, as well as other Buffalo-based medical institutions, the Center of Excellence is primed to become one of the most innovative healthcare training and research hubs in the United States, effectively building upon Stratasys’ long-held involvement within the medical industry. Discuss how quickly they are making progress in the 3D Printed Vascular Models at Jacobs Institute forum over at 3DPB.com.
[Source: Stratasys]