Radiology at Texas Children’s Hospital recently began a new era of advanced image processing, further progressing our ability to provide the highest level of patient-centered care. Using new technologies, 3D printing allows diagnostic images to be translated into exact 3D replicas used by surgeons and other physicians as they prepare for surgery and explain procedures or anomalies to patient families. The machine used within the 3D lab creates the model by layering melted plastic. Among the uses for these physical models:
Bone surgeries
Cardiac surgeries
Airway surgeries
Computer modeling tools – which have been available for years – can show a very precise picture of the organs or bones using a CT scan to facilitate surgical planning. The 3D printing process provides additional value over these computer-based techniques. The new physical model (3D print) can be used as a teaching tool for educating residents and new doctors. It can also help explain procedures to families, allowing them to actually see an organ replica in their hands and understand what will take place once in surgery. Models like this are already being used in many adult hospitals and Texas Children's believes they will benefit our pediatric population and their parents. We utilize specialized hardware/software including the Philips Extended WorkStation, DSI and DTI Studio, Paradigm Studio, and many more.
Services include:
Cardiac
Ejection fraction and function
Flow processing
Coronary anatomy reformatting
Vascular
MR and CT angiographic processing
Vascular malformations
Renal artery stenosis
Musculoskeletal Radiology (MSK)
Quantitative cartilage mapping on 1.5T and 3T MRI platforms