Published on: 06/03/2021
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, a pioneer in applying 3D printing and mixed reality technology to healthcare, is now exploring how technology can help teach medical students and provide an immersive educational experience.
During a two-day demonstration held in April at the University of Florida, anatomy students were able to observe and dissect 3D printed organs, including 40 heart models donated by Stratasys, maker of the J750 Digital Anatomy ™ Printer. The students also had the opportunity to see and learn about the structures of the heart up close with the ApoQlar HoloLens2 mixed-reality glasses.
“These technologies have enhanced our own surgical planning and patient education initiatives at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. Through this experience we came to recognize the potential these innovations offer for training future medical professionals. We are thankful to our collaborators for working with us to make this a reality,” said Robert L. Hannan, M.D., head of the Cardiovascular Surgery Advanced Projects Laboratory at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.
“At the UF College of Medicine, we continuously seek opportunities to enhance the learning experience for our students. Innovative tools like these offer a dynamic way to engage future clinicians with the anatomy of the human body," said Kyle E. Rarey, Ph. D. Professor, UF College of Medicine, Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology.
The Heart Institute at Nicklaus Children’s was among the first in the nation to utilize three-dimensional printing technology to support surgical planning and patient education, particularly for patients with complex heart conditions. The hospital’s Cardiovascular Surgery Advanced Projects Laboratory (APL) is now using emerging mixed reality technology to support planning of complex congenital heart procedures and help patient families visualize how the surgical team will conduct repairs. For more information about the Heart Institute, visit nicklauschildrens.org/Heart.