3D printing is also helping medical device manufacturers to prototype and manufacture products more quickly, inexpensively and effectively. The faster a device is completed, the faster it can enter clinical trials and ultimately get approved for general use, and Materialise has offered its 3D printing services to many manufacturers developing new devices.
“At Materialise, we believe in the power of our mission to create a better and healthier world,” said Bryan Crutchfield, Vice President and General Manager of Materialise North America. “We work very closely with teams at our partner hospitals and medical device companies to explore opportunities to assist in complex, innovative medical procedures. By working with our partners to leverage 3D printing for more effective and efficient clinical trials, we are helping them bring innovative devices and procedures to market and improve care for patients.”
Because such devices aren’t on the market yet, Henry Ford is using a transcatheter aortic device instead. The creation of such devices is a complex process, requiring complicated 3D anatomical imaging and accurate virtual planning. Surgeons need to know ahead of time how much the device will restrict the blood flowing from the heart, and so the doctors at Henry Ford used Materialise Mimics Innovation Suite, combining anatomical planning on hollow virtual models with surgical simulations on 3D printed models.
“The results that we’ve had using 3D computer aided design imaging have been nothing short of remarkable,” said Dee Dee Wang, M.D., Director of Structural Heart Imaging at Henry Ford Hospital, and Medical Director, 3D Printing, Henry Ford Innovation Institute. “These virtual models allow us to plan and personalize each patient’s procedure before it happens, minimizing the risk of complications. Because we care for the sickest of the sick, that makes this a real game changer.”
Materialise Medical will be at the Transcatheter Valve Therapies (TVT) Conference, which is taking place this week in Chicago on June 15 and 16. If you happen to be attending, you can stop by to talk with Brigitte de Vet, VP of Materialise Medical, and the rest of the medical team. Discuss in the Materialise forum at 3DPB.com.