RamaOnHealthcare March 15, 2022
High Fidelity Preoperative Surgical Rehearsal (Pre-Sure™) models by Lazarus 3D
When innovative minds join with advances in technology, amazing things happen. Today, RamaOnHealthcare talk with Dr. Jacques Zaneveld, PhD., the Founder and CEO of Lazarus 3D, Inc.
Dr. Jacques Zaneveld, PhD, Founder and CEO of Lazarus 3D
RamaOnHealthcare (ROH): Tell us what Lazarus 3D does and produces.
Dr. Jacques Zaneveld (JZ): Every single person’s body is unique in so many ways. At Lazarus 3D, we build exact copies of each patient from their MRI or CT scan data using 3D printing. Unlike normal 3D printers that use plastics or metals, our Pre-Sure™ models are made in highly realistic materials that can be cut, operated on, and can even bleed. This allows surgeons to rehearse each surgery ahead of time. Pre-Sure™ models are FDA cleared diagnostic medical devices and are even covered by newly issued medical billing codes.
Unlike normal 3D printers that use plastics or metals, our Pre-Sure™ models are made in highly realistic materials that can be cut, operated on, and can even bleed.
ROH: How realistic are these models?
JZ: Pre-Sure™ models are accurate to sub-millimeter average accuracy. Additionally, they are made in materials that bleed and can be cut, sutured, insufflated, dissected, and can be operated on. Just like your body, Pre-Sure™ models include planes between tissue types.
ROH: How do surgeons order a Pre-Sure™ model?
JZ: Once we’re set up with your institute, surgeons can send anonymized CT and MRI data to Lazarus 3D through their PACS system. Within 48 hours, the surgeon will receive a digital 3D representation of their patient we call a Digital Twin. You can see an example here and on the link below! Click on the model and hold down button to view it from all angles. Double click on it to enlarge the view and see more detail. Once the surgeon approves the model, they will receive the physical copy within a few days.
Link: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/digital-twin-example-model-ab3acea470e048d9b2b61418bf15a791
ROH: I understand your product just launched this year. How will it change medicine?
JZ: The most important factor in patient outcomes is surgeon experience and skill. Unfortunately, until now there has been no way to perform a hands-on surgical rehearsal before the real thing. Just like practicing a piece of music, rehearsing on a model could help surgeons operate safer, faster, and with less errors. Indeed, studies have shown that 3D models are accurate and realistic (1), improve surgeon confidence (2), improve patient satisfaction (3), and may improve patient outcomes (2,4).
The most important factor in patient outcomes is surgeon experience and skill. Unfortunately, until now there has been no way to perform a hands-on surgical rehearsal before the real thing.
ROH: Can you briefly tell us about a success story using your product?
JZ: Before removing a kidney tumor, surgeons typically clamp the renal artery – the structure supplying blood to your kidney. This prevents blood loss, but you can only keep the artery clamped for a limited period of time before it damages the kidney. Dr. Richard Link at Baylor College of Medicine had a patient that presented with a complex case of kidney cancer – so complex, in fact, that several other surgeons had said they couldn’t remove the tumor while saving the patient’s kidney. Dr. Link, however, was able to rehearse his surgery on a copy of the patient kidney ahead of time and take real lessons with him to the actual operation. This allowed him to operate quickly and precisely, saving the patient’s kidney function. You can learn more about this case on ABC news, available here. At Lazarus 3D, we are so privileged to be able to support the lifesaving work of surgeons like Dr. Link every day.
ABC news link: https://abc13.com/lazarus-3d-3-d-printing-technology-science/1657014/
ROH: What do healthcare administrators and potential patients need to know?
JZ: Hospitals are already reducing their medical malpractice and liability insurance rates by using 3D printed models. This, along with improving patient satisfaction, operative time, and operative performance is vital to the success of surgery departments.
Hospitals are already reducing their medical malpractice and liability insurance rates by using 3D printed models.
Lazarus 3D also provides a wide range of anatomically correct and realistic medical training models to provide confidence building experiences such as spinal taps, thyroidectomies, cardiac valve replacement, bronchoscopy, suturing, colonoscopy, and more. You can learn more about this here.
Link: https://www.laz3d.com/customized-training-models/
If patients have a surgery coming up, I’d encourage them to consider if they’d like their doctor to rehearse their surgery ahead of time and ask their doctor if they are a candidate for Pre-Sure™! These following three questions can help you determine if you are a candidate for this new technology:
Q: Is my disease a “Genito-urinary” condition?
Currently, Pre-Sure™ is only indicated for use in “Genito-urinary” conditions, which are conditions of the kidneys, bladder, urinary system, prostate, and genitalia. If your condition is in another part of your body, you may not yet qualify for Pre-Sure™.
Q: Is my case complex, or routine?
Pre-Sure™ is more likely to assist your doctor if it is a complex case. Simple procedures are low risk, so they may not benefit from using Pre-Sure™.
Q: Does your doctor think rehearsing your surgery could help?
Your doctor knows better than anyone if rehearsing your surgery on a Pre-Sure™ model could help them do the best job possible when it comes time for the real thing. If you have a complex Genito-urinary surgery, ask your doctor what they think!
Citations:
1. von Rundstedt FC, Scovell JM, Agrawal S, Zaneveld J, Link RE. Utility of patient-specific silicone renal models for planning and rehearsal of complex tumour resections prior to robot-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy. BJU Int. 2017;119(4):598-604.
2. Ghazi AE. & Teplitz BA. Role of 3D printing in surgical education for robotic urology procedures. Trans Andro and Uro (2020). 9(2). 931–941
3. Wake, N., Rosenkrantz, A.B., Huang, R. et al. Patient-specific 3D printed and augmented reality kidney and prostate cancer models: impact on patient education. 3D Print Med 5, 4 (2019).
4. Maddox MM, Feibus A, Liu J, Wang J, Thomas R, Silberstein JL. 3D-printed soft-tissue physical models of renal malignancies for individualized surgical simulation: a feasibility study. J Robot Surg. 2018 Mar;12(1):27-33. doi: 10.1007/s11701-017-0680-6. Epub 2017 Jan 20. PMID: 2810897