A 3-D printed hand model for teaching, diagnosis and procedural planning.
Stratasys Ltd., a 3-D printing and additive manufacturing (AM) solutions company, is teaming up with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to launch one of the first collaborative 3-D printing hospital networks in the nation. This effort is the cornerstone of Stratasys' Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program.
The agreement with the Department of Veterans Affairs Center for Innovation (VACI) is specifically designed to have a positive impact on patient care and doctor preparedness. As the largest integrated healthcare system nationally, the Veterans Health System is leveraging both 3-D printers and materials to foster a high level of collaboration and knowledge sharing throughout hospitals.
Stratasys is equipping five Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals in the U.S. with 3-D printers, materials and training to encourage development of custom orthotics, prostheses and anatomical models for personalized healthcare. The equipment is fully integrated across hospitals, generating a network for building skills and knowledge sharing across sites - resulting in improved patient outcomes, enhanced surgical collaboration and streamlined costs.
"This 3-D printing network is a significant step forward in how we approach patient treatments. The technology not only enables 3-D 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.
During the initial deployment stage, Stratasys 3-D Printers are being installed at VA hospitals in Puget Sound, San Antonio, Albuquerque, Orlando and Boston. Stratasys is also providing 3-D printing materials and training alongside support.
"Our work with the VA exemplifies the tremendous difference AM is making around the healthcare industry. These solutions now make it possible to not only improve patient care, but set new standards for highly personalized solutions. 3-D printing today is advancing healthcare in ways that would have been nearly impossible even a decade ago," said R. Scott Rader, PhD, GM of Healthcare Solutions at Stratasys.
For more information contact:
Stratasys Ltd.
7665 Commerce Way
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
877-489-9449 / 952-937-3000
info@stratasys.com
www.stratasys.com