[3D Print News Flash] 3D Printing Drives Innovative Medical Solutions

3D Printing Propelling Innovative Medical Solutions

Dr. Bon Ku and Dr. Rob Pugliese are redefining the traditional medical education model by teaching medical students to design medical devices, spaces, and services, thereby fostering innovative problem solvers and doctors.

Dr. Bon Ku and Dr. Rob Pugliese serve as a professor and an emergency physician, respectively, at Thomas Jefferson University. They observed the gap in skills and knowledge of modern medical school graduates and recognized the challenges they face immediately after graduation in a busy, real-world hospital environment. They were also inspired by the Maker movement (initiated by Jose Gomez-Marquez and his team). They are exploring how to contribute to medical professional education by enhancing creativity, responsiveness, and doctors' sense of mission.

Doctors and Designers

The establishment of a design lab and the implementation of the JeffDESIGN program - JeffDESIGN is the first design curriculum in a medical school. Dr. Ku states, "The purpose of this program is to teach future doctors how to design medical devices, spaces, and services in the healthcare field. But more than that, this program teaches them how to be problem-solvers." In the JeffDESIGN program, doctors, designers, architects, and engineers collaborate on practical lessons.



Kathryn Linder, a medical student at Jefferson, is enrolled in the "Design for Disability" course taught by Dr. Pugliese. She is proficient not only in theory but also in practice, and with her classmates, she is creating a prosthetic limb for a 16-year-old singer-songwriter.

Linder's team is developing an orthosis that will allow a young quadriplegic person to write by hand again. Linder says, "When we think about solutions, it's no longer just theoretical. It's not just about functionality, but also whether the appearance and color are suitable for Lariq." (See this video for details).

Dr. Ku states, "These are everyday problems, but current medical education does not adequately address them." A rapid cycle of discovery, prototyping, and testing becomes a crucial tool for future doctors.

Dr. Ku also recognized the realistic problem of physician burnout within design. When everyday problems seem insurmountable, it becomes difficult to maintain hope. However, he believes that design challenges can be a driving force for healthcare professionals. "There's an inherent optimism in design, the idea that we can design a better way. And that translates to better healthcare. This optimism fosters empathy and creates an attitude in future doctors to design with their patients."



There is a long history of physicians acting as inventors, making significant contributions to advancements in medical technology. However, in recent years, this role has increasingly been entrusted to the medical technology industry. Dr. Ku and Dr. Pugliese view themselves as inventors, and JeffDESIGN provides students with the opportunity to propose their own solutions to medical challenges.

3D Printers in Medical Schools

This "Medical Center Design Lab" is truly unique. It is highly regarded for promoting the creativity and design thinking of medical students, and the students' inventions are also gaining attention. The lab is located in the vault of the former Federal Reserve Bank in Philadelphia, serving as a prototyping space that supports collaboration between medical professionals and technology.



While the lab is equipped with paper, pens, and sticky notes like a typical design studio, its greatest feature is Ultimaker's desktop 3D printers.

After evaluating various 3D printers, the JeffDESIGN team appreciated Ultimaker's precision, reliability, and practicality. Its ease of use makes it accessible even for medical professionals. Dr. Ku states, "3D printing is no longer a distant technology; it has become an accessible tool that can be used on your desk."

This program does not require a long period of CAD learning, allowing for immediate creation of practical prototypes.

The products designed by the students are both practical and innovative, differing from mass-produced medical devices. By being designed based on actual patient needs, they contribute to the realization of higher quality medical care.