Many anatomical medical teaching tools are created with plastic parts that are simple, shiny and look almost comically cartoonish in comparison to the real systems that make up the human body. But researchers from Carnegie Mellon University in New York are putting 3D printing technology to work for the creation of highly precise and detailed anatomical model kits for medical training.
The lifelike 3D-printed kits for medical students are based on the 3D scans of medical cadavers that were printed into 57 different pieces.
As of now, the $250,000 model kits is costly and time-consuming to produce, but kits of this kind could have huge implications for medical facilities that lack the resources or licensing to store and use cadavers. In the future, it may be common to see patient-specific 3D models created for rehearsing particularly difficult medical procedures.
3D-Printed Anatomy Kits
Researchers are Using Lifelike Models for Medical Teaching
Trend Themes
1. 3d-printed Medical Models - The increased precision and cost-effectiveness of 3D printing technology can improve medical training, allowing for more realistic medical models to be produced.
2. Patient-specific Medical Models - 3D printing technology can be used to create patient-specific medical models, which can be used for practicing difficult medical procedures and improving patient outcomes.
3. Disruptive Anatomical Teaching Tools - 3D-printed anatomical model kits have the potential to disrupt the medical teaching industry, providing a more realistic and cost-effective alternative to traditional plastic models.
Industry Implications
1. Medical Education - 3D-printed anatomical model kits can improve medical education and training, allowing for more realistic and effective teaching materials to be used.
2. Medical Modeling and Simulation - 3D printing technology can be used to create patient-specific medical models for medical simulation, which can help improve medical procedures and outcomes.
3. Medical Equipment Manufacturing - Manufacturers of medical equipment can use 3D printing technology to create more realistic and effective medical models and teaching tools for medical facilities and training programs.