Joshua B. Bederson, MD, with a 3D model and an interactive simulation of the skull of a patient with a large epidermoid tumor—tools he used in planning the patient’s surgery.
The Mount Sinai Health System recently launched the Medical Modeling Core, a collaboration led by the Department of Neurosurgery, where Mount Sinai clinicians can order 3D and virtual models that can be used to explain procedures to patients, plan surgeries, and even conduct trial runs.
“Our simulation, prototyping, and 3D printing resources developed here at Mount Sinai are rare for a medical institution,” says Joshua B. Bederson, MD, Professor and Chair of Neurosurgery for the Mount Sinai Health System, and Clinical Director of the Neurosurgery Simulation Core at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “In conjunction with simulation, they also play an important role in the patient-consultation process.”
The team is led by Anthony B. Costa, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery, Scientific Director of the Neurosurgery Simulation Core, and Director of the Medical Modeling Core. Dr. Costa has developed digital tools to expedite the process of turning radiological data into 3D models and interactive, virtual modeling. The work is done rapidly—“in days, as opposed to weeks,” Dr. Costa says—and at a significantly lower cost than outside vendors. Recent models include brain tumors with surrounding vasculature and cranial nerves, spine modeling for the correction of severe scoliosis, and pelvic models for the planning of total hip replacement.
“When patients come in and are told they require a surgical procedure, it is often difficult for them to have a clear picture of what is going on in their own body,” Dr. Costa says. And 3D printing enables patients to pick up a model of the area affected, as the physician explains their condition and how the surgical procedure will work. “This offers patients confidence about what is about to happen to them,” Dr. Costa says. “We have found this to be a very successful approach.”
Mount Sinai clinicians and researchers who are interested in Medical Modeling Core services may visit icahn.mssm.edu/medicalmodeling or contact holly.oemke@mountsinai.org.