A digital design file of a smoothed orthosis, ready for 3D printing by VA hospitals. Image courtesy of Business Wire.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is working with Stratasys, headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and Rehovot, Israel, to launch a collaborative 3D-printing hospital network. Stratasys is equipping five VA hospitals with 3D printers, materials, and training to encourage development of custom orthoses, prostheses, and anatomical models for personalized healthcare. The equipment will be fully integrated across hospitals, generating a network for building skills and knowledge-sharing across sites. During the initial deployment stage, the 3D printers are being installed at VA hospitals in Puget Sound, Washington; San Antonio, Texas; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Orlando, Florida; and Boston.
“This 3D-printing network is a significant step forward in how we approach patient treatments. The technology not only enables 3D models of a patient’s unique anatomy for diagnosis and treatment, but can also be used to engineer personalized health solutions for veterans-including prostheses and assistive technologies,” said radiologist Beth Ripley, MD, PhD, leader of the VA initiative.
Editor’s note: This story was adapted from materials provided by a Business Wire press release.
