Can 3D-printed anatomy help save lives? Detours episode 2 debuts tomorrow

Come along with The Verge for the second season of Detours. We’ve traveled across the country to find the people, groups, and companies that are solving America’s problems in new and unconventional ways. Check in for new dispatches every Wednesday.

Errors can be fatal in an operating room. Doctors rely on insight into a patient’s anatomy for precision. For decades, diagnoses and surgical plans have been made based on X-rays and scans. At Boston Children’s Hospital, patient safety is being ensured by a Simulator Program that employs a 3D printer to replicate the exact anatomy of a patient. Surgeons now have the ability to rehearse on the printed models before the procedures. Practice rounds are expected to improve efficiency and reduce surgical times. But can 3D-printed anatomies also save lives?