In-house medical 3D print shops may save time, cut costs

New research shows surgeons and interventionalists who used 3D printing services from the University of Cincinnati's Department of Radiology to plan and practice upcoming procedures saved almost half an hour per operation over the course of a year.

The results of the study were published online August 18 in the Journal of the American College of Radiology.

Led by Prashanth Ravi, Ph.D., research associate in the Department of Radiology, and Frank J. Rybicki, MD, professor and vice chair of quality and safety in the Department of Radiology, the researchers estimated the in-house 3D print shop saved almost $3,000 per patient in operating room costs due to shortened procedure times. The models themselves were also cheaper, around $2,200, compared to a price of approximately $2,500 if printed by an outside vendor.

"Utility and cost benchmarks for anatomic models 3D printed in a hospital can inform health care budgets," the study authors wrote. "Realizing pecuniary benefit from the procedure time saved requires future research."