3D Systems
3D heart model with congenial abnormalities
3D heart model with congenial abnormalities
International cardiovascular imaging experts will discuss the use of holograms and 3D printing to guide interventions at next month’s EuroEcho-Imaging conference in Leipzig, Germany.
EuroEcho-Imaging is the annual meeting of the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging (EACVI), a registered branch of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). More than 3,200 healthcare professionals are expected to be in attendance from over 90 countries.
3D technology is becoming an increasingly common feature in modern medical research, with parts being physically 3D-printed and scans being conducted in three dimensions to allow doctors to assess the body more clearly.
“Cardiovascular imaging is now an integral part of diagnosing and treating heart disease,” said Professor Bernard Cosyns, Chairperson of the Scientific Programme Committee. “Nowadays, what’s new is that advanced techniques like 3D echocardiography and deformation imaging are being used in clinical practice.”
New frontiers in congenital heart imaging will be explored including the use of 3D imaging, where data is used to create holograms of the heart. This is then used to hover over the patient and guides the interventional cardiologist in correcting structural abnormalities. Further developments will be highlighted in 3D printing techniques, which use 3D imaging data to create exact, patient-specific cardiac structures that are then used to plan procedures.
The two main themes of the congress are the role of imaging in arrhythmias and aortic valve diseases. Predicting the risk of life-threatening arrhythmias is a hot topic and the role of new imaging techniques will be presented, including an entire session dedicated to imaging after cardiac arrest.
“In the early phase after a patient survives cardiac arrest, imaging is essential to find the cause and guide immediate treatment,” added Professor Cosyns. “Imaging is also important later on to select patients who should receive a defibrillator to treat future episodes.”
The world’s largest cardiovascular imaging conference will be held 7 to 10 December at the Congress Centre Leipzig.
