3D printing congenital heart disease: Assessing clinical translation for clinical practice, surgeon training, education and patient understanding
In the UK, 12 babies a day are diagnosed with a congenital heart defect, a condition or defect that develops in the womb before a baby is born. The defects seen in babies’ hearts are numerous, complex and often unique. It is now possible to make precise models of any baby’s heart, based on detailed scans, using 3D printing. In this project, Professor Andrew Taylor and his team will investigate whether 3D printed hearts could offer real benefits in the care of babies and children with congenital heart disease. Possible uses of these replicas include assisting surgeons to plan or practice an operation. They could also help to teach medical students about congenital heart disease and aid communication between doctors and the families of these young patients. The researchers will work with surgeons, children and their parents at Great Ormond Street Hospital. They will see whether the treatment, planning and understanding of heart defects is improved by the use of a 3D printed replica heart. If their results are positive, this technology could soon become a standard tool in the care of children born with heart defects.
Project details
| Grant amount | £227,573 |
|---|---|
| Grant type | Project Grants |
| Application type | Project Grant |
| Start Date | 29 January 2018 |
| Duration | 3 years |
| Reference | PG/16/99/32572 |
| Status | In Progress |
