Ricoh USA and Stratasys Ltd. have jointly confirmed the enrollment of first patient in their groundbreaking clinical study purposed around evaluating the use of 3D printed models for orthopedic oncology. According to certain reports, the stated study will specifically dig into the efficacy of patient-specific 3D printed anatomical models for preoperative planning and tumor excision, as compared to the current standard of care, a standard which is reliant solely on CT or MRI imaging. More on the same is going to reveal how the whole effort will try and unpack the technology’s potential in the context of improving surgical outcomes, including reduced blood loss, shorter operating time including time under anesthesia, and decreased risk of procedural complications. Facilitating this particular effort, like we referred to, will be a comprehensive comparison. In the given comparison, an experimental group with tumors excised through 3D printed models will be pitted against an active comparator group with tumor excision prepped solely using imaging. The whole study will be a multi-center randomized controlled one, stretching across three different locations. Out of those three, the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Corewell Health™ have already taken the two spots. As for duration, the study is expected to run for 12 months and involve up to 150 subjects.
“Being one of the sites to participate in this study puts us on the forefront of demonstrating new technologies that can advance patient care and improve health outcomes,” said Aws Hammad, M.D., clinical faculty of orthopedic surgery at Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital. “Addressing the challenges that come along with bone sarcomas and utilizing the power of patient-specific 3D modeling is a significant step in not only patient education but as an aid to surgeons for more precise surgical procedures.”
Having referred to the initial bits and bobs, we now must turn our focus towards what actually are the benefits of using 3D printed models in preoperative planning. You see, by leveraging the stated technology, doctors and surgeons can achieve more informed pre-surgical planning and practicing prior to operations, making complex procedures more efficient, economical, and faster. Such a setup, quite different from how the cookie crumbles with computer images, enables these practitioners to represent vital aspects of patient anatomy thanks to life-size physical replicas, thus granting them the means to simulate procedures and complement their precision of excision. This does a lot to eventually reduce the chances of a positive margin. Not just that, 3D models also ensure better communication of planned procedures, something which should significantly improve upon patient outcome and recovery.
“Our never-ending mission is to improve patient outcomes, and that starts with preoperative planning,” said Kyle K. VanKoevering, MD Associate Professor of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center. “We look forward to participating in this study to examine how 3D printed models may help the medical staff better prepare for surgery as well as improve patient education.”
Moving on to the factors that make these two companies the ideal candidates to lead this effort, Stratasys’ case is largely made by its additive manufacturing approach which serves industries like aerospace, automotive, consumer products, and healthcare etc. You see, the company would leverage smart and connected 3D printers, polymer materials, a software ecosystem, and parts on demand to help organizations across the given industries realize competitive advantages at every touchpoint throughout their product value chain.
Ricoh USA, on the other hand, has its utility rooted in providing integrated digital services and print, as well as imaging, solutions designed to support digital transformation of workplaces, workspaces and optimize business performance. The company’s excellence in what does can be understood once you consider it serves customers across more than 200 countries.
