Cardiac Surgeon David Anderson Shares Insights on 3D Surgical Simulation at London Forum Amid Company's Recent IPO Filing

Just last month, a forum on 3D printing technology opened in Kingston, London, attracting a large number of medical experts and decision-makers from healthcare companies. The focal point of the forum was whether innovations in 3D technology could truly break the shackles that traditional concepts impose on modern medicine.

David Anderson is a cardiac surgeon, currently a professor at the Center for Pediatric Cardiac Surgery and affiliated with St Thomas’ Hospital. At the forum, he presented a virtual 3D surgical simulation to the audience during a themed session he chaired. Following the session, he was interviewed by Pharma IQ on the topic of 3D surgery.

Q: I just watched your presentation. How prevalent do you think this technology (virtual 3D surgery) is today?
A: It’s hard to say. In fact, not many attendees were interested in this technology, and even fewer made a special effort to approach me with questions after the session. Honestly, I believe most of the audience was drawn by the sheer sophistication and allure of the technology itself; there were probably only a handful who genuinely intended to apply it in medical practice. For instance, I was seated next to an orthopedic surgeon and a dentist. Clearly, such technology would find its primary utility in maxillofacial (jaw and face) surgery. In contrast, it holds little practical value for cardiac surgery because, unlike the static structures of the maxillofacial region, the heart is constantly beating. Performing virtual 3D surgical procedures on a beating heart remains a significant technical challenge.

Q: What is your view on the prospects of the 3D printing industry today?
Answer: 3D printing technology holds immense potential in specific areas, such as rapid wound healing and the reconstruction of damaged bones (those with compromised structural integrity). In these fields, the emergence of 3D printing is truly eye-catching. Many believe this technology is remarkable and will inevitably become a mainstream treatment in hospitals over time. However, once the initial hype subsides, it will likely remain an adjunct to traditional therapies rather than a replacement. 3D-printed surgical solutions cannot completely supplant conventional plastic and reconstructive surgery; instead, they will coexist with traditional surgical methods.

During cardiac surgery, this technology helps us address some highly complex issues. Gaining a comprehensive understanding of the patient’s thoracic cavity before opening the chest greatly facilitates the subsequent surgical procedure, which is critically important. Additionally, it is essential to communicate openly and honestly with the patient’s family prior to employing this technology in surgery. This lies at the heart of the matter. You must inform them of the potential intraoperative challenges and the complexity of the procedure. Close collaboration and unity between the medical team and the patient are vital to achieving exceptional outcomes.

Q: Technologies like virtual surgery must seem quite fascinating to most people, right?
A: Currently, the scope of application for this technology remains quite limited; it has not yet matured to the point where it can be used to treat a wide variety of diseases. However, I believe that virtual surgery holds significant potential. On one hand, during actual procedures, it can assist many senior surgeons like myself in resolving complex challenges—for instance, by facilitating timely decision-making during intricate operations. On the other hand, virtual surgery can help novice physicians with little to no experience accumulate surgical expertise without the fear of causing medical malpractice. In such simulations, all incisions heal automatically, and the heart does not suddenly stop functioning; under these circumstances, what pressure could these beginners possibly face? It is worth noting that throughout my medical career, all my surgical experience has been gained through hands-on practice in the operating room over many years, which is the most traditional approach. Day after day, opening patients’ thoracic cavities, conducting meticulous examinations, and administering targeted treatments—this is how I have acquired my experience.

Even though many hearts donated by children or adults are currently available for research at pathology institutes, none of these can compare to a lifelike heart model created using 3D virtual technology. 3D virtual surgical technology can produce a realistic plastic heart that is more durable than donated hearts, eliminates concerns about bacterial contamination, and raises no ethical issues. Furthermore, under the provisions of the Human Tissue Act (enacted in 2004, which strictly regulates the use, transport, storage, and disposal of human tissues and organs in the UK), we must handle every donated organ with utmost care.

Q: So, what is the most critical obstacle that the 3D printing industry needs to overcome at present?
A: First, I believe it comes down to image acquisition technology, which is constantly advancing. While modern CT scanning technology is excellent, it has one drawback: it emits X-rays. Therefore, we must exercise extra caution when performing scans on patients, especially children. MRI is currently the safest image acquisition technique, as it does not emit any substances with long-term harmful effects; the same applies to ultrasound scanning. As you can see, image acquisition technology is continuously improving, much like our smartphones today. You are well aware of how sophisticated modern smartphones have become, and this progress is ongoing. As image acquisition technology becomes more advanced, 3D-printed objects will likewise become more realistic.

The biggest challenge at present remains image acquisition, which is still entirely manual. To obtain images, one must remain stationed at the computer, capturing them bit by bit. I deeply admire the perseverance of my colleagues performing this task, as it is exceedingly tedious. In fact, it took us an entire day to create the virtual surgery scenario you just witnessed. Consequently, this technology is not yet practical for widespread use; nevertheless, the significant commercial potential it holds is evident.

How can image acquisition technology be automated? I believe that, in time, sharp-minded individuals will undoubtedly identify this business opportunity and design a computer system along with a suite of software capable of automatically executing image acquisition protocols. This is inevitable. The image acquisition process should no longer rely on manual operation; we must automate it. Otherwise, who would be willing to perform such tasks continuously throughout the day?

Q: So, what is your purpose for attending the meeting today?
David: My purpose in coming here is to broaden my horizons by reviewing the research findings of others, which may inspire my own work. Additionally, I aim to disseminate my results to a wider audience, thereby encouraging more individuals to engage in this field. In the research process, the greatest challenge lies not in solving a problem, but in posing a new one. This is common in many studies, where the questions raised often far outnumber the problems resolved. Nevertheless, this is a positive sign, as it reflects broad knowledge and extensive experience.

I believe that engaging and interacting with diverse groups during conferences can powerfully propel my research forward, as individuals approach problems from different perspectives and in varied ways. I firmly believe in the potential for mutual understanding among people, much like how most surgeons can readily comprehend the challenges faced by physicians in other specialties within their professional practice.

Compiled by Huang Ziming | Edited by Mo Renying