ROCK HILL, S.C., Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- 3D Systems (NYSE: DDD), the originator of 3D printing, revealed today that it has partnered with OpHeart, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to ensure that children born with life-threatening heart defects receive the best medical treatment possible, by providing pediatric heart surgeons with the 3D-printed tools they need to better prepare and rehearse complex surgeries. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, one percent of all children are born with Congenital Heart Defects (CHDs), making it the most common birth defect. Tens of thousands require surgery each year in the U.S. in order to survive. 3D Systems has leveraged its 20 years of anatomical modeling expertise and end-to-end medical workflow to support OpHeart's mission over the past four years by providing accurate, detailed anatomical models of patients with Congenital Heart Disease to surgeons. These models have facilitated a significant breakthrough in CHD surgery, providing vital aid to surgeons in their preparations for this complex, delicate surgical procedure.

In addition, the models are used by medical teams to explain the surgery to patients' families in an effort to keep them fully informed of the upcoming procedure and what to expect.

"Feedback from the surgeons we've worked with through OpHeart is that our anatomical models are tremendously helpful to them in delivering successful patient outcomes," said Katie Weimer, vice president, medical devices, 3D Systems. "We are proud to help OpHeart deliver on its mission. We are also grateful for the opportunity to communicate the benefit of 3D printed surgical models. The models we create for OpHeart clearly demonstrate the power of 3D printing."

3D Systems works directly with Anne Garcia, who founded OpHeart in 2015, six months after her own daughter, Ariana, was born with a life-threatening heart defect. "We fiercely believe that the ability to 3D print a replica of a CHD patient's heart is an invaluable tool that can, to put it bluntly, save lives," said Garcia. "By giving surgeons the ability to practice and plan for complex surgeries that involve reconnecting vessels as thin as human hairs in hearts no larger than a strawberry, it only stands to reason that the quality of surgery improves. We want every child with a life-threatening heart defect to benefit from this technology."

In order to realize that goal 3D Systems is proud to participate in OpHeart's "Heart-in-Hand Pledge", whereby any requesting doctor or parent will receive a 3D printed model of their CHD patient's heart in anticipation of surgery or catheterization, regardless of the family's or hospital's ability to pay.

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