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Medicine, Technology, and Art (3D Printing)


“Simple Mens Muscle Anatomy”

Technology, medicine, and art have been critically intertwined for a long time. According to Professor Vesna, one of the oldest ties we can see are through practices of plastic surgery, which originated out of war. She mentions that medical practices, such as plastic surgery, has been considered artistic performances from 4000 years ago. 

Although in modern times art and medicine have become separate practices, both have been integrated to enhance each other’s practices through the use of technology. For example, artist and professor Diane Gromala developed a VR program to treat phobias, Parkinson’s, and anxiety that is used in over 20 hospitals in the US (TedxTalks). 

One of the most fascinating and innovative amalgamations of art and medicine technology is the use of MRI and 3D printing. MRI’s have been used for medical purposes since the 1990s after its development by Raymond Damadian (Uttal). Soon after, artist Justine Cooper first incorporated MRI images in her video animation RAPT I in 1998 (Casini). 
"Female Patient Lying for an MRI Scan”

The MRI was a game changer for both medical and artistic practices. Additionally, this medical technology was incorporated to a newly-rising technology called 3D printing. 3D printing is a disruptive technology for art that transformed the mediums through which artists expressed their creativity. It uses innovative processes called additive manufacturing that produces a 3D solid object from a digital file through layering processes (HuffingtonPost).

This technology has tremendous implications for the medical world, too. Medical Futurist claimed that in the US, approximately $150 billion dollars were used for medical technologies in 2010. However, 3D printing opened up possibilities to cut these costs immensely. This technology also comes with the potential for many lives to be saved. 

"Finger Splints" (3D Printing Technology)

An example of such potential comes from the Gulf Heart Association, which reported a story about surgeons successfully undergoing surgery on a 2-week-old baby who had a congenial heart. These surgeons who used a 3D model of the child’s heart using MRI data claimed that without this technology, the child would not have been able to survive.
“3D Model of a 2-Week-Old Baby's Heart with Complex Congenital Heart Defect"

Another example comes from Kaiba Giofriddo, a prematurely born baby who was diagnosed with tracheobronchomalacia, a terminal disease that stopped him from breathing. Kaiba’s caregivers also utilized 3D printing to produce a device that would help Kaiba breathe and live. 

 The potential benefits that could arise from the integration of art and technology are limitless.



Bibliography (Photos)
Hajar, Rachel. “3D Model of a 2-Week-Old Baby's Heart with Complex Congenital Heart Defect, Using Data from MRI.” PMC, Wolters Kluwer -- Medknow Publications, Oct. 2014, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4348989/.
Medical Futurist. “Finger Splints.” TMF, Creative Commons Attribution, medicalfuturist.com/3d-printing-in-medicine-and-healthcare/.
Nattrass. “Female Patient Lying for an MRI Scan.” GettyImages, www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/female-patient-lying-for-an-mri-scan-royalty-free-image/688386634.
“Simple Mens Muscle Anatomy.” Dhamma4U, ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY LEARN, dhamma4u.com/mens-muscle-anatomy/male-body-simply-simple-mens-muscle-anatomy/.


Bibliography
Brooks, Katherine. “14 Ways 3D Printing Has Changed The Art World.” The Huffington Post, TheHuffingtonPost.com, 7 Dec. 2017, www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/30/3d-printing-art_n_5534459.html.
Casini, Silvia. “Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as Mirror and Portrait.” MRI Configurations between Science and the Arts.
Gulf Heart Association. “Surgeons Use 3D-Printed Heart to Save Life of 2-Week-Old Baby.” Texila Connect, Wolters Kluwer -- Medknow Publications, Oct. 2014, www.texilaconnect.com/surgeons-use-3d-printed-heart-to-save-life-of-2-week-old-baby/#more-8271.
Medical Futurist. “The Ultimate List of What We Can 3D Print in Medicine And Healthcare!” Berci, Creative Commons Attribution, 28 Apr. 2017, medicalfuturist.com/3d-printing-in-medicine-and-healthcare/.
TedxTalks, director. TEDxAmericanRiviera - Diane Gromala - Curative Powers of Wet, Raw Beauty. Ted Talks, Youtube, 11 Dec. 2011, www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=110&v=cRdarMz--Pw.
Tyson, Peter. “The Hippocratic Oath Today.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 27 Mar. 2001, www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/hippocratic-oath-today.html.
Uttal, William R. “The Two Faces of MRI.” Dana, The Dana Foundation, 1 July 2002, www.dana.org/Cerebrum/Default.aspx?id=39300.
Vesna, Victoria. “Body Medicine .” Medicine + Technology + Art . Desma 9, 24 Apr. 2018, Los Angeles, CA, cole2.uconline.edu/courses/888567/pages/unit-4-view?module_item_id=16300804.

Comments

  1. UnknownMay 2, 2018 at 7:21 PM

    Hi Daniel,

    I did not think about 3D printing, but I agree with you that there definitely is a connection for 3D printing and medicine. One of my roommate is in the 3D printing club and I often see him designing and using lots of his creativity to design an object. A new point you bring up is the cost and I also think that is important because it demonstrates how art could be beneficial instead of something that is abstract! I really like the example you chose since it did demonstrate how 3D printing isn't just for fun and *~*cool*~* things, but it can actually save lives. Overall I really liked reading your blog, thanks for sharing! :-)

    Galen

    ReplyDelete

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