From 3D Prints to VR Hearts: Medicine reimagined by 3D tech. | Dr.Mahesh Kappanayil | TEDxASM Kochi

Описание: In this TEDx talk, a pediatric cardiologist shares his transformative journey using 3D printing and virtual reality (VR) to tackle complex congenital heart defects, traversing an emotional arc marked by innovation, serendipity and hope. Starting with a groundbreaking 3D-printed heart model that enabled the first such surgery in South Asia for a frail 17-year-old tech-savvy boy—who went on to build his own printer and inspire a medical 3D lab—the speaker describes solving "unsolvable" cases, like crafting a sternum for a baby born without one and planning high-risk tumor removals. Evolving to VR, global teams now collaborate in immersive digital environments around holographic patient hearts, overcoming 2D imaging limitations and spatial intelligence gaps. The story culminates full circle as the boy, now a PhD scholar, wins a top award for 3D tech in heart care, urging doctors to embrace AR, VR, and AI for innovative, life-changing medicine. Since joining Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences in 2004, Dr. Mahesh has distinguished himself as both a clinician and an innovator. A master in advanced cardiac imaging, he spearheaded India’s first dedicated pediatric congenital heart-MRI program in 2010, dramatically enhancing diagnostic clarity for complex conditions.
With a visionary spirit, Dr. Mahesh founded South Asia’s first point-of-care Medical 3D Printing Lab at Amrita in 2015. There, medical scan images become tangible heart replicas—empowering surgeons to visualize, plan, and execute life-saving operations with unprecedented precision. Furthering this trajectory, he established one of India’s earliest Extended Reality (VR/AR) innovation labs in 2021. These digital “twin” models enable immersive surgical rehearsals, bridging virtual insight with clinical execution.
A prolific academic, Dr. Mahesh has published breakthroughs in cardiogenetics—including identifying a lethal fibrillin-4 gene mutation affecting children in northern Kerala. His pioneering work earned recognition at the 2016 Festival of Innovations at Rashtrapati Bhavan and multiple awards in innovation and pediatric cardiology.
Beyond the lab, his collaboration with patient‐turned‐advocate Hari exemplifies his commitment to humanizing technology: Hari’s 3D-printed heart allowed a high-risk surgery to succeed, and now he supports Dr. Mahesh in advancing 3D cardiac modelling This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx