Using 3D-Printed Models to Advance Clinical Care

Abstract

Structural Heart is a new field within the division of cardiovascular service lines. Structural heart has broadened the scope of delivery of cardiovascular care with its ability to deliver new valves and devices to heart patients who were once turned down for traditional open-heart surgery through the use of transcatheter delivery systems and device designs. However, in the absence of an open-surgical field, the main limitation in transcatheter device development and patient-centric care is the inability of the Structural Heart Implanter to palpate the patient’s cardiac anatomy for device sizing and delivery. Application of 3D printing and 3D modeling are becoming a useful toolkit for Structural Heart Implanters, Imagers, and Device specialists within the Heart Team to use as a communication tool and case planning resource to optimize patient care, and patient safety. Transcatheter interventions have revolutionized not only the field of cardiology, but additionally the field of biomedical engineering within Cardiovascular Medicine through the incorporation of 3D simulation technology.