(Image: Amanda Voisard)
3D replicas of unusual patient hearts are being printed at the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington DC by reconstructing 3D models from 2D computerised tomography or data. The 3D printed models enable surgeons to familiarise themselves with the anatomy and even perform dry run operations.
That’s a clever use of all the 2D imagery from the scans!
3D printer shows surgeons secrets of strange hearts – health – 21 May 2013 – New Scientist.