3D Printed Heart Helps to Save Child's Life

      A young 2 week old baby required a complicated heart surgery. Surgeons at New York hospital have given credit to 3D printing which helped them to better understand the child's heart problem. After scanning the heart using MRI's Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital was able to create a 3D copy of the child's heart; holes and all.

     Although this surgery is extremely complicated and dangerous, this 3D printed heart allowed surgeons to gain a better understanding of the child's heart and created a more possible opportunity to help the child. "The baby's heart had holes, which are not uncommon with CHD, but the heart chambers were also in an unusual formation, rather like a maze" said Dr. Emile Bacha, who actually performed the surgery when she reported to Connecticut media. She went on to say "In the past we had to stop the heart and look inside to decide what to do. With this technique, its was like we had a road map to guide us. We were able to repair the baby's heart with one operation."
     In a world where health problems are always more and more complex 3D printing technology has already proven to be something that could greatly benefit us in the future even in areas outside of the world of health. It is rumored that they are printing more 3D hearts containing common problems and will help doctors to better understand the heart and how to approach certain issues. As most doctors only get to look at hearts when someone chest is open, this is a huge deal and will help further studies of heart related issues.
     This surgery and project was funded by Matthew's Hearts of Hope which is based in Connecticut, they will be funding the next 3D printed hearts as well. The founder of the foundation Marie Hatcher stated: "This is a game changer for CHD babies with complicated heart anatomy."
     Technology certainly has gotten a foothold in with every type of industry and now that we have 3D printers as our new form of technology, it's exciting to think what life they could save next or what big project they could be building soon.

Sources: Independent