3D-printed heart replicas ‘offer significant therapeutic benefits’

The latest 3D printing technology is helping doctors to plan heart surgery more safely and effectively, according to scientists and bioengineers.

At the recent EuroEcho-Imaging conference – the annual meeting of the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging – a number of researchers discussed new advances that have allowed doctors to analyse 3D-printed models of the heart for treatment planning.

Flexible materials for printing are now becoming available, while scanners can now be used that are sufficiently fast to trace the beating heart. A computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scan can be utilised to print muscles and valves, when they are either beating or static.

The models can be used to plan surgeries in children with congenital heart diseases, to test medical devices and to practice procedures in advance. This offers numerous benefits over trying to visualise the organ from a still image.

Biomedical research engineer Helen O'Grady from Galway said: "3D models can be used to discuss the intervention with the medical team, patients and, in the case of congenital heart defects, with parents. It helps everyone affected to better understand what the procedure will involve."

3D printing can also be used to create custom implants or medical devices, and is considered to be a significant new frontier in the life science field.