3D Systems Healthcare Solutions Advance Treatment of National Sled Hockey Champion
October 11 2016 - 9:00AM
3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) announced today the successful spinal surgery
of national sled hockey champion Mark Weimer, aided by 3D Systems’
proprietary digital manufacturing workflow for healthcare. The
complicated 15-hour surgery was performed by Dr. George Frey of
Mighty Oak Medical in Englewood, CO, to alleviate pain caused by
nerve and spinal cord compression following previous operations. 3D
Systems’ workflow was central to the success of the procedure,
enabling the replication of complex patient anatomy for surgical
planning, instrumentation and reference.
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7b3eb27f-e384-4240-b12c-7e848c58a01a
http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3922e1df-8cd4-4f02-99ef-323c3fae9b83
3D Systems supported Dr. Frey in helping Mighty Oak
Medical gain clearance and bring to market its FIREFLY® Technology
for pedicle screw guidance. As a partner to Mighty Oak, 3D Systems
has provided expert digitization and manufacturing services, and
created patient-specific anatomical models to assist with planning
in and help ensure precise pedicle screw placement during Weimer’s
surgery.
After a fall from construction scaffolding left
Mark Weimer partially paralyzed in 1984, he adapted his life’s
passions to coexist with his injury. Weimer joined a sled hockey
team in 1996 and joined the U.S. National Team in 2000. Following
consecutive championship victories in 2010 and 2011, Weimer retired
after 15 years on the ice to take up coaching and share his love of
the game with his grandsons.
In the midst of these active years, Weimer
underwent spinal fusion surgery in 2001 to combat the loss of
muscle strength he had been experiencing in his right arm. As time
went by, however, this spinal fusion and Weimer’s neurological
condition led to the deterioration of the remaining spinal disks
and vertebrae below the fusion site, causing compression of his
nerves and spinal cord. As a result, Weimer began to experience
pain in his quads as well as bowel and bladder problems in
2014.
To resolve the pain and other issues stemming from
Weimer’s anatomical and neurological condition, 3D Systems used
Weimer’s CT scan data to generate a 3D model of Weimer’s spine that
accounted for his natural anatomy as well as the foreign structures
added in previous surgeries. Using this information, Dr. Frey was
able to design his approach and plan the navigation required to
safely address and avoid critical regions.
Using the digital representation of Weimer’s spine
prepared by 3D Systems, biomedical engineers at Mighty Oak Medical
determined the required trajectory of each pedicle screw and
designed the associated surgical guides that would ensure accurate
placement. These guides, along with a foot-long reference model of
Weimer’s spine, were 3D printed by 3D Systems on a ProX® 800
Stereolithography (SLA) printer using a plastic material that can
be sterilized for use in the operating room.
3D Systems announced the successful surgery on
October 10 during a visit by U.S. Congressman Jared Polis. Polis
toured the company’s Denver Customer Innovation Center alongside
Weimer, heard Weimer’s rehabilitation story, and was walked through
the advanced end-to-end workflow of 3D Systems’ precision
healthcare solutions.
“It is wonderful to have so many innovative
businesses throughout my community,” said Congressman Polis. “3D
technology can transform lives around the world and right here in
Colorado. In Congress, I’m fighting to remove roadblocks to
innovation, and to that end – it’s important for me to hear from
companies throughout my district, such as 3D Systems.”
“The toolset we have at our disposal is uniquely
adaptable to some of the most structurally complex cases being
tackled by modern medicine,” said Kevin McAlea, Executive Vice
President, General Manager, Metals & Healthcare, 3D Systems.
“By enabling new visualizations and processes, we are helping
transform daunting procedures into addressable, step-by-step
treatment plans.”
For more information on Mark Weimer’s surgery, read
the full case study.
About 3D Systems
3D Systems provides comprehensive 3D products and
services, including 3D printers, print materials, on-demand
manufacturing services and digital design tools. Its ecosystem
supports advanced applications from the product design shop to the
factory floor to the operating room. 3D Systems’ precision
healthcare capabilities include simulation, Virtual Surgical
Planning, and printing of medical and dental devices
as well as patient-specific surgical instruments. As the
originator of 3D printing and a shaper of future 3D solutions, 3D
Systems has spent its 30 year history enabling professionals and
companies to optimize their designs, transform their workflows,
bring innovative products to market and drive new business
models.
More information on the company is available
at www.3dsystems.com
FIREFLY® Technology is a registered trademark of
Mighty Oak Medical.
Investor Contact:
Stacey Witten
Email: investor.relations@3dsystems.com
Media Contact:
Timothy Miller
Email: Press@3dsystems.com
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