Charleston VA to Appear on NBC’s Today Show on Wednesday

The Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center will appear on NBC’s Today Show Wednesday morning at 8:09 am featuring the VA’s first ever 3D printed device approved for compassionate use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Host Craig Melvin traveled to Charleston on March 31st to film the segment featuring the groundbreaking in-house developed medical device to help improve the quality of life of a Veteran with a rare hearing condition.

FDA’s compassionate use authorization allows patients access to prototype medications, biologics and medical devices for medical treatment outside of clinical trials when no comparable or satisfactory alternative therapy options exists.

“With our Charleston 3D Innovation Center, we are on the cutting edge of patient care for our Veterans and we work hard every day to take their care to the next level,” said Scott Isaacks, Director and CEO of the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center.  “This was the first of many initiatives we are planning aimed at improving the lives of our Veterans using this emerging technology.”

With this compassionate use approval, a 3D printed stent was inserted into the ear canal of a 76-year-old Veteran patient with a rare medical condition that caused the ear canal to collapse.  The device is not surgically implanted and can be easily removed by the patient. This unique hearing aid was designed and created by the integrated 3D printing network team at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center.

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