Patient Mia Gonzales’ life-threatening heart defect was reversed when surgeons used a Stratasys 3D printed model of her heart to plan surgery (Credit: Business Wire)
Stratasys is gathering its 3D printed medical applications under one roof with its new Medical Solutions Group, the company announced on Nov. 25.
The first initiative for this group will be a thought leadership series called “3D Printing Medical Innovation,” which will publicize information about the impact 3D printing has on medical care and medical device development and adoption. R. Scott Rader, an assistant professor of both ophthalmology and engineering and associate editor for a medical journal, will serve as the general manager for Medical Solutions.
“We view the medical market as one of the fastest growing spaces within 3D printing,” said Dan Yalon, executive VP of strategy, business development and vertical solutions at Stratasys. “This market is strategically important for Stratasys to advance patient care by increasing operation success, reducing complications and shortening surgery times in operating rooms.”
Stratasys 3D printers will also be a key part of four sold-out 3D printing workshops at the 2015 Radiological Society of North America’s annual meeting on Nov. 29 through Dec. 4.
The workshops will show physicians various techniques for using 3D printing in their work in hospitals. These techniques including preparing patient-specific images from MR/CT scans for 3D printing and printing personalized anatomical models in order to improve patient outcomes and operating room efficiency.
“These hands-on workshops address the increased global demand for 3D printed medical models to support clinical education and training, pre-surgical planning, and research,” said Rader. “As more hospitals adopt 3D printing, there is a potential for shortage of hospital staff trained on the technology.”
Stratasys will also be co-hosting an event on Dec. 1 entitled “3D Printing? Ask the Experts.” Doctors. Frank Rybicki of the Ottawa Hospital, Jonathan Morris of The Mayo Clinic and Justin Ryan of Phoenix Children’s Hospital will talk about their experiences with 3D printing in the medical industry, as well as the future of the use of 3D printing.
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