3-D DONATION TO HELP IRAQ WAR VICTIMS.

Byline: Daily News

VALENCIA - A local company is donating its high-tech computer imaging expertise to help doctors in Iraq treat innocent victims of the war who have suffered traumatic injuries.

3D Systems Corp. has joined others in the rapid prototyping industry to support the humanitarian ``RP for Baghdad'' project to help the severely injured Iraqi citizens.

The companies, which manufacture and sell systems that create three- dimensional models out of computer data, will make medical models for Iraqi surgical teams in major trauma centers. Surgeons will use the models to plan treatment.

``Every day we witness the courage of the Iraqi people as they continue to risk their lives rebuilding their country under the threat of terror,'' said Abe Reichental, 3D Systems' president and chief executive officer.

``We believe that our technology can make a difference in the lives of Iraqi citizens who became the innocent casualties of a raging war in their country, and we are delighted that we can make a meaningful contribution towards their successful rehabilitation.''

The Iraqi League for Medical Profession is providing the infrastructure for this service. Patients with serious trauma injuries will undergo CT scans, and the data will be processed to generate digital input for a 3-D model of the injuries. 3D Systems, Stratasys and Z-Corporation will provide physical models from the processed CT scan data. The models will be used by medical teams in Iraq to plan and practice surgery on the patient.

Initially focusing on bone reconstruction, project plans also contemplate building parts for socket construction for artificial limbs.

3D Systems' rapid prototyping and other technologies have been widely used by designers and engineers to produce functional models a wide variety of industrial, commercial and educational uses, including industrial designs and prototypes for products such as a dashboard for a new car or a casing for a new cell phone.

These technologies also are used in the medical field. Starting from digital CT scan data, exact replicas of parts of the human body can be produced. For example, data from a scan of a patient's head can be used to make models of the patient's skull, brain or tissues. These ``medical models'' offer surgeons the opportunity to study, prepare and even practice before starting complex surgery. Knowing what to expect from the operation before the surgery has begun reduces the chances of unpleasant and even life-threatening surprises.

The separation of Egyptian conjoined twins Ahmed and Mohamed in October 2003 is one of the best-known examples of the use of medical models produced with rapid prototyping technology.