The 3D Printing Center of Excellence
3D Printing for Complex Medical Cases
The 3D Printing Center of Excellence at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital creates 3D- printed models and computer models to support patient care, innovation, and education throughout SSM Health ministries and surrounding communities.
Established in 2015, the center is a collaborative between engineers, physicians, surgeons, radiologists, and allied staff. The goal is to bring the best technology in imaging, computer modeling, design, and prototyping to improve patient care.
3D-printed models are used in multiple specialties, including:
- Plastic surgery/Craniofacial surgery
- Cardiology/Cardiothoracic surgery
- Orthopedic surgery
- General surgery
- Neurosurgery
- Vascular surgery
- Transplant surgery
- Pulmonology
- Nephrology
The 3D Printing Center of Excellence has created detailed anatomic models to help with presurgical and preprocedural planning for complex conditions such as structural heart defects, spine abnormalities, and congenital facial and skull deformities. This has included detailed multicolor 3D heart models in addition to fabrication of sterilizable surgical guides. We continue to push the boundaries of medical care to create patient-specific treatment options to improve patient outcomes.
How it Works
Our engineers work directly with physicians to create 3D-printed models. Medical images are used to create detailed computer models using FDA-certified imaging and CAD software. The computer models can be viewed virtually, or 3D printed using several 3D printing technologies. Computer models also can be used to design patient-specific surgical guides for use in the operating room. 3D-printed anatomic models and surgical guides can be used directly for surgical or procedural planning, discussion with patients and families, and education.
Imaging Required for 3D Printing
- CT (Ideally less than 1 mm slice thickness)
- MRI (Ideally less that 1.5 mm thickness)
- Cone beam CT
- Rotational angiography
Technology
- Stratasys J750 polyjet printer
- Stratasys Objet30TM Prime polyjet printer
- Formlab SLA printers
- Multiple FFF 3D printers
- 3D scanners
Capabilities
- Single material prints
- Multicolor prints
- Multimaterial prints
- Sterilizable anatomic models and surgical guides
Preferred Lead Time
- One week
Preferred Ordering Method
- Epic (3D Print)
Innovation
3D Printing Center of Excellence at SSM Cardinal Glennon has continued to advance patient care in Missouri. The Center printed the first congenital heart model in Missouri in collaboration with Saint Louis University. The center also created the first in-house printed surgical guides in Missouri. Currently, the center is focused on improving care for patients with cleft lip and cleft palate by utilizing custom stents to achieve better functional and aesthetic outcomes. The center also has focused on designing novel artificial heart valves with new shapes and materials to improve both the performance and biocompatibility of heart valve replacement technology.
Patient Stories
Learn more about how the 3D Printing Center of Excellence at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital has helped providers find solutions to complex medical cases and put smiles on our patient's faces.
How to Contact Us
The center is led by SLUCare Physician Group's pediatric plastic surgeons and pediatric cardiologists. Please email the center at 3DPrint@ssmhealth.com or call 314-577-2086 if you have any questions or would like to utilize the 3D Printing Center of Excellence.
Vicky Karamouzi
3D Printing Engineer
vicky.karamouzi@ssmhealth.com
Stanley Dsa
3D Printing Engineer
stanley.dsa@ssmhealth.com
Matt Voss
3D Printing Administrator
matt.d.voss@ssmhealth.com