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3D printed heart helps surgeons save child

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Stratasys 3D printers have been used by Nicklaus Children’s Hospital to print the life-like anatomical heart of 5-year-old Mia Gonzalez

Gonzalez suffered from a rare heart malformation called double aortic arch, a life-threatening condition which could only be fixed through an intricate operation.

Nicklaus Childrens hospital in Miami printed a 3D model of Gonzalez’s heart to study and so the surgical team could optimally visualise Mia’s specific heart structure.

Scott Rader, GM of medical solutions at Stratasys, said: “Once patient scan data from MRI or CT imaging is fed into the Stratasys 3D Printer, doctors can create a model with all its intricacies, specific features and fine detail.”

Dr. Redmond Burke, director, pediatric cardiovascular surgery, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Miami, said: “With a 3D printed model, we were able to figure out which part of her arch should be divided to achieve the best physiological result.”

After 3D printing and examining Mia’s heart model, Dr. Burke determined the best course of action by scrutinising and visualising the surgical solution on the model. The heart model supported doctors in performing a successful surgery.

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