ROCK HILL, S.C., Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- 3D Systems
(NYSE: DDD), the originator of 3D printing, revealed today that it
has partnered with OpHeart, a nonprofit organization whose mission
is to ensure that children born with life-threatening heart defects
receive the best medical treatment possible, by providing pediatric
heart surgeons with the 3D-printed tools they need to better
prepare and rehearse complex surgeries. According to the American
Academy of Pediatrics, one percent of all children are born with
Congenital Heart Defects (CHDs), making it the most common birth
defect. Tens of thousands require surgery each year in the U.S. in
order to survive. 3D Systems has leveraged its 20 years of
anatomical modeling expertise and end-to-end medical workflow to
support OpHeart's mission over the past four years by providing
accurate, detailed anatomical models of patients with Congenital
Heart Disease to surgeons. These models have facilitated a
significant breakthrough in CHD surgery, providing vital aid to
surgeons in their preparations for this complex, delicate surgical
procedure.
In addition, the models are used by medical teams to explain the
surgery to patients' families in an effort to keep them fully
informed of the upcoming procedure and what to expect.
"Feedback from the surgeons we've worked with through OpHeart is
that our anatomical models are tremendously helpful to them in
delivering successful patient outcomes," said Katie Weimer, vice president, medical devices,
3D Systems. "We are proud to help OpHeart deliver on its mission.
We are also grateful for the opportunity to communicate the benefit
of 3D printed surgical models. The models we create for OpHeart
clearly demonstrate the power of 3D printing."
3D Systems works directly with Anne
Garcia, who founded OpHeart in 2015, six months after her
own daughter, Ariana, was born with a life-threatening heart
defect. "We fiercely believe that the ability to 3D print a replica
of a CHD patient's heart is an invaluable tool that can, to put it
bluntly, save lives," said Garcia. "By giving surgeons the ability
to practice and plan for complex surgeries that involve
reconnecting vessels as thin as human hairs in hearts no larger
than a strawberry, it only stands to reason that the quality of
surgery improves. We want every child with a life-threatening heart
defect to benefit from this technology."
In order to realize that goal 3D Systems is proud to participate
in OpHeart's "Heart-in-Hand Pledge", whereby any requesting doctor
or parent will receive a 3D printed model of their CHD patient's
heart in anticipation of surgery or catheterization, regardless of
the family's or hospital's ability to pay.
To deliver on the Heart-In-Hand Pledge, 3D Systems segments 2D
imaging data to create a 3D digital model, which is then 3D printed
and shipped world-wide. 3D Systems creates the 3D printed models
through a combination of its D2P™ software as well as
ProJet® CJP 660Pro 3D ColorJet printer and
VisiJet® materials. The company's team of expert
biomedical engineers convert the 2D MRI or CT scan data of the
heart into a 3D model using the D2P stand-alone modular software
package, which is designed to address and consolidate all 3D model
preparation steps. It relies on automatic segmentation tools that
minimize the effort and time associated with the creation of a
digital patient-specific model.
Once created, the digital model can be exported to the 3D
Systems ProJet CJP 660Pro to create a full color model of the
heart. Full color models allow the anatomy to be selectively
colored which enables surgeons to easily identify and focus on
specific portions of the model during consultations with other
surgeons and also better communicate the surgical plan with
patients' families.
"From a surgeon's perspective, the incorporation of 3D printing
into our craft is enabling tremendous breakthroughs," said Dr.
Jorge Salazar, chief of pediatric
and congenital heart surgery at Children's Memorial Hermann
Hospital (Houston, Texas), and a
member of the OpHeart Board of Directors. "The full color 3D
printed models provided by 3D Systems have enabled us to achieve
outcomes previously considered unobtainable. Their expertise and
technology are helping us advance treatment and improve patient
outcomes."
Dr. Salazar is renowned for redefining success for CHD cases and
patients previously deemed inoperable. For example, Dr.
Salazar has developed the Texas One-Step, performing complex
repairs in one surgery instead of the conventional protocol of
multiple surgeries, resulting in improved patient care and less
hardship for families.
The Heart-in-Hand initiative is of utmost importance in saving
children's lives, as there is no insurance reimbursement for these
tools. "It is our hope that as more surgical teams work with
OpHeart to employ 3D Systems' anatomical models in their CHD
surgeries, we will be able to definitively demonstrate what is
common sense - providing doctors the ability to better prepare for
complex surgeries makes a meaningful, measurable difference in the
lives of these children," added Garcia. "Hopefully, they will
become the standard of care, as insurance companies recognize their
value and reimburse for their use."
For more information on 3D Systems' anatomical modeling service,
please visit the company's website.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made in
this release that are not statements of historical or current facts
are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking
statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors that may cause the actual results, performance or
achievements of the company to be materially different from
historical results or from any future results or projections
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In many
cases, forward looking statements can be identified by terms such
as "believes," "belief," "expects," "may," "will," "estimates,"
"intends," "anticipates" or "plans" or the negative of these terms
or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are
based upon management's beliefs, assumptions and current
expectations and may include comments as to the company's beliefs
and expectations as to future events and trends affecting its
business and are necessarily subject to uncertainties, many of
which are outside the control of the company. The factors described
under the headings "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors"
in the company's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, as well as other factors, could cause actual results to
differ materially from those reflected or predicted in
forward-looking statements. Although management believes that the
expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are
reasonable, forward-looking statements are not, and should not be
relied upon as a guarantee of future performance or results, nor
will they necessarily prove to be accurate indications of the times
at which such performance or results will be achieved. The
forward-looking statements included are made only as the date of
the statement. 3D Systems undertakes no obligation to update or
review any forward-looking statements made by management or on its
behalf, whether as a result of future developments, subsequent
events or circumstances or otherwise.
About 3D Systems
3D Systems is the originator of 3D
printing and an innovator of future 3D solutions. It has spent its
30-year history enabling professionals and companies to optimize
their designs, transform their workflows, bring groundbreaking
products to market and drive new business models. This is achieved
with the Company's best of breed digital manufacturing ecosystem.
It's comprised of plastic and metal 3D printers, print materials,
on demand manufacturing services and end-to-end manufacturing
software solutions. Combinations of these products and services
address a variety of advanced applications- ranging from Aerospace,
Automotive, and Consumer Goods to Medical, Dental, and Jewelry. For
example, 3D Systems' precision healthcare capabilities include
simulation, Virtual Surgical Planning, and printing of medical and
dental devices as well as patient-specific surgical
instruments. More information on the company is available
at www.3dsystems.com.
Investor
Contact:
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Stacey
Witten
|
|
Email:
investor.relations@3dsystems.com
|
Media
Contact:
|
Nicole
York
|
|
Email:
press@3dsystems.com
|
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SOURCE 3D Systems