Michael Boelstoft Holte, Ph.D., M.Sc. Head of 3D Lab Denmark, which provides patient-specific 3D printed solutions for several departments at the University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Esbjerg. Before the 3D lab was established the hospital’s Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery worked with a third-party service bureau to prepare 3D models to assist in planning for corrective jaw surgeries at the hospital. As the surgeon’s requests for 3D printed medical models grew over time, the department found it difficult to sustain the business model both from a budget standpoint and managing the iterative process of revising 3D models in a timely manner.
The head of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery reached out to Prof. Holte, who was working as an Associate Professor at a local university at the time, to think about a solution. Because they needed a 3D printing system that they could use on a daily basis, Prof. Holte suggested that the hospital establish an in-house lab to manage model production effectively.
The new in-house lab, which is now 3D Lab Denmark, began to produce single-material models with an SLA printer in the beginning of 2018. The models were sufficiently detailed and surgeons in other departments around the hospital began to ask the lab to print models for them, too. Today, 3D Lab Denmark has produced more than a thousand 3D printed parts.
Over time, Prof. Holte and his team realized that a single-material printer couldn’t meet the demand to print more advanced models such as hollow models, multi-colored models, multi-material or more realistic prints for better research and surgical planning.
Looking into the future, Prof. Holte is exploring additional areas of interest such as automation and artificial intelligence, training and education, incorporating 3D printing with additional technological advancements. “There are many possibilities. Our knowledge is developing through interaction with clinical staff and networking through different professional forums. 3D labs all around the world are looking into this development. Even in Denmark we see additional 3D labs and 3D printing centers popping up and it’s interesting to see, it is becoming more prevalent.”
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