Two firms announce international partnership through 3D printing

Two medtech firms have announced a new partnership designed to enhance patient outcomes by delivering a transformative approach to pre-surgical care through the use of 3D printing.

Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH) who operate in North Florida and South Georgia, and UK-based axial3D will collaborate to deliver medical printing services with an initial focus on neurosurgical services.

Mark O’Bryant, president & CEO of Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare said: “At Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, we have a commitment to bringing the best patient care to our community, this includes identifying, vetting and introducing new technology. Our neurosurgery program is already the leader in the region and the opportunity to introduce 3D printed models adds a new dynamic to the program that can lead to better outcomes and greater understanding for our patients.”

Plans to expand across other surgical specialities in the organisation will follow. As axial3D’s first and only neuroscience industry partner in the United States, TMH will collaborate with other international partners to collate data on the use of 3D printing in neurosurgery, and participate in ground-breaking research and complete case studies, from both the clinical and business perspective.

Daniel Crawford, founder & CEO of axial3D said: “Our 3D printed models are used extensively by leading surgical centres across Europe and as we continue to develop our presence in the United States, we are excited about the clinical and research potential of this partnership with TMH. Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare offers a leading neurosurgery program and by utilizing 3D printing, it is expanding its already high standards and providing a better experience for its patients and clinical team.”

Matthew Lawson, MD, neurosurgeon at TMH added: “Much of what we do in neurosurgery is 2D. Being able to utilize a 3D model and hold it in your hands prior to surgical intervention is very insightful for the patient – it helps them understand surgical interventional risks and benefits. 3D models have been shown to increase patient consent rates and aid in patient understanding of the planned procedure.”