Singapore General Hospital is pushing the boundaries and improving surgical outcomes with 3D printing. Meet Chee Shu Ping who brings her engineering knowledge to help the team use 3D printing to heal.
Improving surgical outcomes with clinical 3D printing
Singapore General Hospital’s 3D Design and Printing Centre (3DPC) designs and develops patient-specific anatomical models, surgical guides and implants from patients’ medical imaging, to improve outcomes for patients. Located in the hospital, the team at 3DPC works closely with multiple disciplines such as Radiology and various surgical specialties to use this technology to push the boundary of care.
The 3DPC also catalyses and shapes the national and international biomedical 3D printing ecosystem in clinical, research and development (R&D) and education domains. The centre is actively engaged in research collaborations with clinical departments and universities, including Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University.
Shaping the Future of Healthcare
We spotlight Chee Shu Ping, Engineer at SGH 3DPC, in a unique role not commonly found in hospitals as the trend of point-of-care 3D printing centres takes off in recent years.
Singapore General Hospital 3D Design and Printing Centre Engineer Chee Shu Ping
1. Hello, Shu Ping! How did you become a 3D printing engineer in a hospital?
Hi! I graduated with a diploma in Biomedical Engineering from Nanyang Polytechnic and then a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Nanyang Technological University. While studying, I also founded a 3D printing company, a service bureau which assisted clients to print anything ranging from prototypes to student architectural projects to figurines.
Clinical 3D printing is about designing person-specific products needed by patients, and then manufacturing them physically to suit only that individual.
So, when SGH was hiring for a new clinical 3D printing centre in 2022, I decided to join as an engineer!
2. What can we do with Clinical 3D Printing?
Our imagination is the limit! In contrast with manufacturing for the masses, 3D printing is ideal for producing patient-specific or highly customised items.
Current and upcoming applications include:
- Individualised surgical guides for surgery of the bones, head, and neck
- Individualised surgical implant sizing and rehearsal models, for surgery of the spine, heart, head and neck, abdominal and pelvic organs, and bones
- Assistive devices for patients, such as foot, ankle and wrist orthoses
- Implants, to replace bone, skin, cornea and solid organs, and custom plates and screws,
- Many other applications such as dental splints, radiotherapy devices, replacement parts for medical equipment, and even medication and food!
3. What are 3D-printed surgical guides?
Surgical guides are precision devices created from the patient’s scans and other medical imaging, by clinical engineers together with clinicians, radiographers, and radiologists. They help surgeons to make complex surgeries more accurate and successful, and the surgery safer by reducing the time taken to do the procedure.
They can be used to:
- Realign bones of the knee, hip, wrist and ankle, to preserve joints and prevent osteoarthritis
- Target hard-to-reach structures, such as parts of the inner ear deep in the skull
- Remove bone cancers cleanly so they do not recur
- Place implants such as spine screws precisely without injuring important structures
These surgical guides are placed in the body for a short period of time to assist with the procedure and then removed. Generally, a surgical guide assists surgeons with precise and accurate plane cuts pre-planned before the surgery. In neurosurgery, it can also be like a stencil to localise and mark out the area of interest to the surgeon.
We design and manufacture some types of these guides within SGH and sterilise them in our Operating Theatre sterilisation units in line with Singapore Health Sciences Authority (HAS) guidelines before the guides are used in SGH for patient care.
Surgical Guides used for Hip realignment
Surgical Guides used for Pelvic Tumour Excision
Surgical Guides used for Jaw Tumour Excision with Fibula Bone Reconstruction
Surgical Guides used for Knee Realignment and Brain Tumour Excision
Surgical Guides used for Ankle and Wrist Bone Realignment
4. What else do you do at the SGH 3D Printing Centre?
At the SGH 3DPC, along with surgical guides, we design and manufacture samples to determine sizes of implants, as well as rehearsal models and assistive devices.
By making models or 3D images of patients’ organs or implants, we assist the surgeons to visualize and rehearse complex operations. Surgeons are better prepared, and surgeries have a better chance of avoiding complications. The models can also be used to explain details of the surgery to patients so that they can give informed consent.
We are also operationalising in-house implant design and manufacturing capabilities within SGH in 2025.
Surgical Localisation and Implant Sizing Models, Foot and Ankle Orthoses
Virtual surgical planning of distal radius deformity realignment
3D printed implants for skull, face, wrist and chest wall defects
5. When should I contact the SGH 3D Printing Centre if I need a surgical guide or something 3D-printed for my patient?
As soon as possible, once you think you need one!
Simple guides may take three days to develop whereas more complex ones take a bit more time.
We will work with you, the medical team, the patient, radiology, and medical device companies to help you in your surgical planning.!
6. How can I contact the 3DPC?
We are on the first floor of Block 2 at SGH. When you enter from the car drop-off point, we are the first room on your left.
Please feel free to visit us from Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm, email us at 3dpc@sgh.com.sg or message us on Microsoft Teams:
Nisar Ahamed (Manager)
Chee Shu Ping (Engineer)
Tan Shing Yi (Engineer)
Dr Mark Tan (Clinical Lead)
All images credited to: 3D Design and Printing Centre, Singapore General Hospital
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