Doctors use 3D printed heart models to save little baby life

Recently, cardiologists at the Los Angeles Children's Hospital successfully saved the baby's life with a 3D printed heart model.

When 18-month-old Nate Yamane began to be life-threatening due to narrowing of the heart's pulmonary artery, pediatric cardiologist Frank Ing realized that he needed a stent, a small mesh tube for the treatment of stenotic or weak arteries.

Although stents are now more common, Nate's case presents a unique challenge: the baby's small pulmonary artery has shrunk to only 9 mm, requiring a custom device for small spaces. Perfect measurement is crucial.

Using Nate's cardiac CT scan data, the hospital team was able to create a 3D printed model of the blocked area. Dr. Ing can make a special small stent to accommodate 3D models from narrow arteries. The result was successful: Nate's oxygen levels improved overnight.

医生借3D打印心脏模型挽救婴儿的生命

“The 3D model is very helpful because it makes me believe in the 'size of the bracket' that will work,” Dr. Ing said.

It is reported that Nate was born in June 2015, accompanied by the rare four-leaf clover (TOF) and lung atresia, the baby was very difficult to breathe immediately after birth. His pulmonary artery is blocked, preventing blood from flowing from the heart to the lungs.

The crisis was avoided after Nate rushed from the South Bay Hospital to the Los Angeles Children's Hospital, but the complications persisted.

The doctor said that Nate's TOF case was particularly serious because his pulmonary artery was not formed correctly in the mother's womb. Typically, the human body responds to this type of occlusion by growing blood that surrounds the problem area and the collateral artery that is redirected by the lungs.

医生借3D打印心脏模型挽救婴儿的生命

“Imagine blood flowing in an artery, like a car on a highway, it is blocked. So an alternative route must be found to reach the destination; the blood is the same, in which case the way to the lungs is found through the lateral blood vessels Dr. Ing, director of the Department of Cardiology at Los Angeles Children's Hospital and co-director of the Heart Institute, explained.

Although the treatment of these types of obstruction has been developed, these blood vessels need to be rapidly rebuilt after birth to prevent heart failure. “We use anything that the body gives us,” Dr. Ing explained. The standard surgery here is called unfocusing, where the surgeon repairs the blood vessels by stitching them together.

Nate has performed these open heart surgery and catheterization procedures one month after birth. However, in December 2015, doctors discovered that Nate's pulmonary artery narrowed in the right and left branches.

Starting from the right, Ing's team was able to open the blockage with a balloon. However, for the left side, they need a bracket. Because Nate's left pulmonary artery stenosis is only 15mm, Dr. Ing took special measures. He carefully cut the smallest existing stent in the hospital and used his team's special technology to turn it back to itself and effectively customize the functionality. Custom brackets.

医生借3D打印心脏模型挽救婴儿的生命

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