At Rady Children’s Hospital, a pioneering 3D printing lab is transforming the landscape of surgical planning in pediatric care. Established in 2018 under the leadership of Dr. Justin Ryan, this state-of-the-art facility has quickly become one of the leading pediatric 3D labs in the United States.<\/p>\n
The lab provides doctors with scale models of organs and bones, which allows for personalized preparation for surgeries. According to Dr. Ryan, "We have cardiac models, orthopedic models, scoliosis models, neurosurgery models." These detailed models assist surgeons in visualizing complex procedures and make it possible to practice on the models before performing actual operations.<\/p>\n
In eight years, the lab has created approximately 2,800 models for over 2,000 patients. The ability to print these models from MRI and CT scans enables doctors to have a physical roadmap for their procedures, streamlining surgical processes and potentially reducing operation times by 30 minutes to over an hour. As Dr. Ryan mentions, this can lead to lower infection rates and reduced incidences of complications in the operating room.<\/p>\n
In addition to aiding surgical preparations, the lab has adapted its technology to print medical devices like masks and face shields during the pandemic. The models are also beneficial for educating other medical professionals and helping patients understand their diagnoses, thus easing parental anxieties during difficult times.<\/p>\n
The lab not only focuses on printed models but is also engaged in virtual reality and AI-based research, aspiring to develop future technological advances in healthcare. By leveraging cutting-edge technology, Rady Children’s Hospital’s 3D printing lab exemplifies innovation in pediatric care, one layer at a time.<\/p>\n