Taking heart from future technology
Surgeons say a Sydney man is alive today thanks partly to a futuristic printer.
The printer created a 3D replica of the sick patient's heart, helping doctors better plan what could have been a dangerous operation.
At the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Centre, heart scans are leaping off the screen and into the future.
In an Australian first, software has enabled the CT scans of Larry Britton's heart to be printed in 3D.
Dr Raj Subbiah, cardiologist at St Vincent’s Hospital, said: “This is the actual 3D reconstruction of your heart, with all the veins and the left atrial appendage.
The replica heart is paving the way for a revolution in the way Dr Raj does business.
“Until we had this technology we weren't able to see or feel your heart and having this, we are able to see this beforehand.
“This will help us guide the oblation strategies to isolate the veins to hopefully cure your atrial fibrillation once and for all.”
As impressive as this technology is, imagine the day that they can print, not using plastic, but real human tissue, to make a working, beating heart.
Dr Subbiah added: “That would be a dream for all of us, but it is definitely a potential, with this technology.”
Currently, the technology is only on offer for patients at St Vincents and, for the record, Larry's operation was a success.
