Inkjet & Digital Printing

Stratasys 3D Printing Technology Creates Lifelike Multi-material Biomodels, Changing Surgical Planning and Training Landscape

Friday 15. November 2013 - Collaborating with University of Malaya's Centre for Biomedical and Technology Integration to Simulate Endoscopic Neurosurgical Procedures

Stratasys Asia Pacific, a subsidiary of Stratasys Ltd. (NASDAQ: SSYS), a manufacturer of 3D printers and materials for personal use, prototyping, and production, in collaboration with the University of Malaya’s Centre for Biomedical and Technology Integration (CBMTI), today showcased lifelike multi-material biomodels using Stratasys 3D printing technology, simulating endoscopic neurosurgical procedures, which can change surgical planning and training landscape.
CBMTI specialises in creating custom biomodels for purposes of training and research to enhance surgeon training experience. The adoption of the multi-material Stratasys Objet Connex500 and Objet Eden350 3D Printers allowed production of models that features different textures and densities over the surface and throughout the interior, simulating human body parts accurately, efficiently and cost-effectively creating realistic models.
The process begins with data from CT and MRI scans converting into imaging data with material characteristics assigned to each portion. The 3D printers then use the data to build physical models that are accurate spatially and anatomically.
“Creating custom biomodels used to be an extensive and painstaking process. To closely mimic human organs, the process can sometimes take up to a few weeks, which proved to be a slow and costly method,” commented Yuwaraj Kumar Balakrishnan, Operations Manager of CBMTI. “Stratasys 3D Printers are the ideal platform for innovation. We have gone from being only able to mold titanium plates for cranial implants to being able to create biomodels with pathology from actual patient imaging data. Simulation of navigation and endoscopic neurosurgical procedures are simulated as closely as possible with these 3D printed models. This is a major breakthrough from both research and training perspectives.”
CBMTI has since increased its production capacity by 40 percent with Stratasys’ 3D Printers. It also uses the Objet Connex 3D Printer for creating prototypes for university research projects and manufactures bio-models and the Eden 3D Printer for surgical planning, focusing on devices used during surgery. In addition to lifelike realism, the process of fabricating end-use products directly from imaging data allows scaled-down versions of its models for quick testing, conserving materials when full size is not required.
Jonathan Jaglom, General Manager, Asia Pacific & Japan at Stratasys said, “At Stratasys, we aim to offer cutting-edge technologies assisting industries to innovate by opening the door to endless possibilities. I am honored that Stratasys is able to play a role in contributing and shaping the healthcare & bio-modeling industry.”