About 3D Innovation

Establishment

Aarhus University Hospital is a part of the frontrunners in the North within use of patient specific 3D prints.

In 2018 the formerly 3D Print Center was established at Aarhus University Hospital. The idea originated from a wish from the clinicians to ensure better quality and even more individualized treatment for the patients with a fast lead time.

Since the establishment the number of patients whose treatment 3D Innovation have been a part of have multiplied. In 2018 3D Innovation was involved with treatment for five patients. That number have grown to 230 patients in 2022. The number of clinical departments cooperating with 3D Innovation have also grown over the years. In 2018 3D Innovation cooperated with two departments. In 2022 it was 10 different departments.

Number of patients

2018: 5

2022: 230

Number of cooperating departments at AUH

2018: 2

2022: 10

In step with the growing number of collaboration departments in the hospital and the technological advancement the clinical applications have advanced as well. Not just with in the applications for 3D print but also within other 3D technologies, like Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality.

The 3D Print Center has today changed its name to 3D Innovation

Areas of Application

3D printing has until now shown itself as particularly valuable in complex and highly specialized problems within orthopedic surgery and for reconstruction after cancer surgery. At the moment the 3D Innovation delivers anatomical models, which helps provide the patient with better understanding of their illness, and it also give all the involved a better opportunity to prepare for the operation.

The 3D Innovation also delivers patient specific guidance tools, which ensures more precise surgery for the individual patient.

Why Have a place for innovation within 3D at AUH?

From the decision that a cancer patient needs a tumor removed with surgical treatment the surgery itself must happen within a very short amount of time. This of course raises a demand of a very fast and consistent delivery of 3D print for the cancer surgery. Previously is was not possible to operate cancer patients with the help of 3D print, since they were ordered from outside the hospital, and there was no guarantee that the prints would arrive on time

3D Innovation reside in the hospital itself which allows us to meet the clinicians face to face when a surgery is being planned. This saves the clinicians many long email correspondences with the companies abroad, who provides medical 3D prints.

We frequently join the surgeons in the surgical theater. It is often in the middle of the situation itself that the clinicians think about possible challenges or improvements in connection with the surgery. These thoughts would otherwise be left in the operation theater, but us being present gives us the opportunity to take our colleagues thoughts and ideas with us out of the operation theater, where we can try to find a solution.

We produce patient specific 3D prints at a fraction of what it can be bought for outside of the hospital.

About 3D Innovation at Aarhus University Hospital

Establishment

Number of patients

Number of cooperating departments at AUH

Areas of Application

Why Have a place for innovation within 3D at AUH?

Extremely fast delivery of patient specific 3D prints

Close to the Planning

Development Based on Need

High Quality at a Smaller Cost