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  • Ricoh Imaging - gloved hands holding a 3D modeled skull
    Image: Stratasys/Ricoh
  • Ricoh Imaging - gloved hands holding a 3D modeled skull
    Image: Stratasys/Ricoh

How 3D Modeling Is Unleashing the
Power of Information in Medicine

How 3D Modeling Is Unleashing the
Power of Information in Medicine

When we think of information in healthcare, we’re likely to think about medical research or scientific articles, but not as likely to think about physical objects, like 3D modeling.

At Ricoh, we love information, and we particularly love using information to form and inform the progress of healthcare. In truth, with 3D modeling, it’s the power of information that makes progress happen.

3D modeled examples of human bones and joints
Image: AdobeStock | #502807945

Information shapes the 3D model and grows the knowledge base

Information shapes the 3D model and
grows the knowledge base

3D models are created from patient information captured through medical imaging—such as computed tomography (CT) scans or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

But the benefits of 3D modeling and information don’t end with these early data points. Additional information gained, and hypotheses confirmed with modeling, help to make great advances in the knowledge base of medical approaches.

Using 3D modeling, advances can be made that can decrease surgical time, provide greater accuracy and reduce costs.

Turning imaging information into exact, true-to-size replicas of the human body allows surgeons, their teams and patients to see, touch and feel what normally can’t be fully understood until surgery. This helps better inform and plan surgeries.

3D modeling also enables more precise placement, pre-sizing and shaping of materials used in surgery and helps identify what would normally be “invisible” until surgery begins. It can provide for a more personalized approach and plan and can help reduce patient anxiety as the surgeon can better explain the procedure with a 3D model.

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How 3D models are created

How 3D models are created

3D for Healthcare Modeling
Image: Ricoh/Stratasys
  • Source images from patient scans are imported from Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) format.
  • A segmentation step identifies target elements and excludes extraneous information.
  • This segmented dataset is converted into a stereolithography (STL) file.
  • It’s then sent to printer-specific software where parameters are set up before the model is “printed,” using an additive manufacturing process.
  • The model then goes through post-processing as needed.

More advances to come

More advances to come

In some specialties, such as neurosurgery, orthopedics, and cardiology, the use of 3D models is more prevalent due to the complex nature of the procedures and the need for precision. As 3D printing technology becomes more accessible and affordable, there will be greater use for surgeries, education, customized implants and prosthetics, and even medical tools.

To help advance progress, organizations should consider outsourcing their 3D modeling printing. Outsourcing 3D model printing saves the costs and headaches of implementing and managing 3D technologies and hardware and the regulatory hurdles that come with production of medical devices.

How Ricoh can help

How Ricoh can help

Ricoh has developed a turnkey solution that can drastically expand access and reduce costs for healthcare providers. Providers can select from two options based on their preferred workstyles or needs. They can choose a point-of-care option, where a Ricoh Managed Services team works onsite at a healthcare facility to manage the entire process. Alternatively, healthcare providers can select an on-demand option where they order and have the models printed at a Ricoh facility and shipped directly to them.

3D printing technology for medicine
Image: AdobeStock | #508099255ys

As digital information experts, with a heritage in information integration, we’ve focused on seamless integration with DICOM and with Merge Universal Viewer from Merative (previously IBM Watson Health), an enterprise imaging solution that many healthcare providers already use. This makes it easy for clinicians to incorporate into existing workflows.

Our biomedical engineers collaborate with healthcare teams to precisely segment DICOM files to meet requestors’ specifications.

The promise of
3D for healthcare
is here

As hospitals and institutions consider the use of 3D modeling, they should envision the short-term and long-term benefits to turning their patients’ information into a tangible tool for informing their processes. By partnering with an established service provider, healthcare providers don’t have to be experts in printing 3D models and can focus on improving patient outcomes.

To learn more about 3D modeling and Ricoh’s turnkey solution, click here .

3D for Healthcare Modeling
Image: Ricoh/Stratasys
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