When cardiologists from Washington University in St. Louis were preparing to treat a toddler whose heart vessels were located in a position that made it tough for the child to breathe, they didn’t just rely on imaging. In another example of the power of 3D printing, the surgeons created a life-sized replica of the young boy’s heart.
Leveraging MRI images and a 3D printer, the surgical team created the replica to help educate the family on the procedure as well help plan the treatment. According to a report from KSDK news, the team considers 3D models a “new frontier” for personalized medicine.
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Evan joined TriMed in 2011, writing primarily for Health Imaging. Prior to diving into medical journalism, Evan worked for the Nine Network of Public Media in St. Louis. He also has worked in public relations and education. Evan studied journalism at the University of Missouri, with an emphasis on broadcast media.