3D Physical and Virtual Models in Fetal Medicine

Book excerpt: Technological innovations accompanying advances in medicine have given rise to the possibility of obtaining better-defined fetal images that assist in medical diagnosis and contribute toward genetic counseling offered to parents during the prenatal care. 3D printing is an emerging technique with a variety of medical applications such as surgical planning, biomedical research and medical education. Clinical Relevance: 3D physical and virtual models from ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging have been used for educational, multidisciplinary discussion and plan therapeutic approaches. The authors describe techniques that can be applied at different stages of pregnancy and constitute an innovative contribution to research on fetal abnormalities. We will show that physical models in fetal medicine can help in the tactile and interactive study of complex abnormalities in multiple disciplines. They may also be useful for prospective parents because a 3D physical model with the characteristics of the fetus should allow a more direct emotional connection to their unborn child.