3D Printing the SynDaver Open-Source Healthcare Mannequin

April 19, 2018 by Mara Hitner 3D Printing Medical 3D Printing

Share this Article

Learn how 3D printing is delivering higher practice standards for healthcare professionals using high-tech mannequins.

SAMM’s abdominal cavity contains the mechanics for the respiration system

As desktop 3D printers become more robust, reliable, and feature-rich, we are seeing a definite shift in professional use-cases from prototyping to producing final products.

Healthcare simulation is a highly targeted and rapidly growing industry. Medical simulators are used as surrogates by doctors, nurses, and veterinarians to practice complex life-saving procedures in a low-risk environment while replicating the same degree of stress as the real world. Being able to hone medical skills with life-like replicas of infants, children, adults, and even animals can literally make the difference between life and death outcomes in an emergency.

SAMM provides the most advanced airway for intubation practice

Often the ability to work on real cadaver – when you can get one – is limited. With high-end models (like the one featured in Mythbusters and Shark Tank) everything is the right color, in the right place, and has the accurate molecular weight and tactile feel. You can do the same procedure ten times over with no loss of fidelity or realism, and no harm to real bodies. Lifelike medical models like these can cost over $100,000. But what if you can’t afford the price tag, just need some basic functionality, or can’t find one in the specific size or gender you need?

Enter SynDaver – a current leader in manufacturing synthetic humans and animals for training in schools, hospitals, and military bases. They recently released their SynDaver Advanced Modular Mannequin (SAMM), which is the only fully customizable, open-source, 3D printed simulator in the world. For the introductory price of only $9998, you get a life-sized 3D printed mannequin, a desktop 3D printer, and license for ZBrush CAD software.

SAMM Intubation Practice Live on the Show Floor

SAMM has Automatic Respiration Sounds, and is Upgradable

Kevin King, recently named Vice President of Global Marketing for SynDaver, has put many prior years into an ambulance career as a paramedic, and therefore understands first-hand how much of an impact SAMM can make.

“At the end of the day, it’s all about improving patient safety by having providers be more educated, which is really a noble pursuit,” explains King. “With SAMM we are continuing the evolution of impacting patient lives by offering a training solution that is affordable and accessible.”

The idea originated from customer demand for a more customizable simulation experience.

The vision is for users to be able to download and print their own replacement parts, and also use CAD design to improve upon the existing modules and create new pieces specifically for their own use-cases. Soon there will be an open SynDaver community where users can upload their designs and share them with others – effectively creating a library of modular solutions to handle any simulation challenge.