Researchers develop 3D printed human heart model for surgical planning

At Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, a team of researchers has developed a printing method called FRESH (Freeform Reversible Embedding of Suspended Hydrogel), which is able to produce a human heart model to help surgeons in their operations. Using alginate as the material, this process allows to reproduce the soft and elastic aspect of organ tissues: when pressed or squeezed, the heart deforms, just like a real human heart. Therefore, this technique makes the model a much more realistic medical tool, allowing surgeons to practise, for example, stitching, which would be impossible on impenetrable plastic models.

Recent progress made in the bioprinting sector is increasingly impressive: today, many players use additive manufacturing techniques to extrude cells and design living tissue, gradually moving towards the creation of fully functional human organs. Even if there is still a lot of progress to be made before a bioprinted organ is implanted in a patient, recent projects are encouraging. On the other hand, 3D printing has become a perfect method to make custom anatomical models, helping healthcare professionals to better prepare for an operation, or to better understand how the human anatomy works. Essentially, it allows to recreate a patient’s organ using data from an MRI. Some 3D printing technologies are so precise that they can reproduce vascularization, and other complex parts.

The 3D printed heart model

Reproducing the elasticity of human heart tissue

Carnegie Mellon University wanted to develop a method to mimic the very texture of the human heart, i.e. the soft and elastic aspect of its tissues. The researchers explained that they used alginate, a soft material derived from marine algae, which also proved to be very accessible cost wise. They used a FDM 3D printer, but instead of extruding the model onto an open air build plate, they deposited the material layer by layer in a gelatin container.