Cloud native EDA tools & pre-optimized hardware platforms
Posted on 7 January 2019 by Jessica James
We recently ran a webinar with Mediprint on 3D printing anatomical models from medical imaging data, which are used to help surgeons make decisions and better understand patient-specific problems. Mediprint have been working in the pre-surgical space since 2015, following two years of working with physicians. They use Simpleware software to create high-quality STL files for medical 3D printing from imaging for manufacture using Stratasys technology.
We caught up with Brent Chanin, CEO and CTO of Mediprint, to discuss Mediprint¡¯s services and how Simpleware software is an important part of what they do:
We are a full-service company that can provide any service required to get from medical imaging data to a 3D printed model. We do this by offering a range of services beginning with 3D reconstruction services, image segmentation going slice by slice, and recreating the anatomy that would be important for your surgeons or whoever the end user of your models would be.
Everything we do we are very dedicated to the quality, the accuracy and repeatability of what we do, so we have a robust quality assurance system in place. If you¡¯re doing your manufacturing on your own, we can help you remotely manage your equipment and operate your machinery. We have proprietary technology to help us do that and help keep track of everything for you. Finally, if you¡¯re just starting out or you¡¯re in the early stage of developing your program, we can help you do that.
Simpleware really produces great STLs. I think it¡¯s really superior to anything else we¡¯ve found out there. We¡¯ve done a good amount of testing¡ Simpleware, I¡¯d say by far, produces the highest-quality STLs we¡¯ve found in any software, where all the tools are very similar. With Simpleware, the export of the STLs and the quality of the meshes ¨C they¡¯re always watertight - they¡¯re always really accurate. If you take your models and load them back against the data, you¡¯ll see that it¡¯s perfect¡¯
With image segmentation it¡¯s important who you have doing it: we use radiological technologists that are certified, trained and registered in 3D reconstruction. We have radiologists review internally, and we also always request that if we¡¯re doing your segmentation, that your own radiologists and surgeons are reviewing our work.
For the meshes, this is again where Simpleware really stands out. With the export of the STLs, we¡¯ve done a lot of testing, from open-source packages which really shouldn¡¯t be used outside of a clinical setting but we¡¯ve used for testing, up to really high-priced common industry software that you¡¯d find in a hospital. Compared to these, Simpleware models are truly exceptional for their quality, their watertightness¡ they really are just great.
Sure, so turnaround time really depends on a number of factors. The most concrete factor is the size of the model: the manufacturing portion for small models can be just a couple of hours, and for something larger can be a few days. Generally speaking, once we get the data, turnaround depends on the different sections you want.
A small part of the anatomy that¡¯s relatively easy to see in the scan, that¡¯s fairly common anatomy, we can be do that typically in under an hour. Engineering is streamlined very well, so less than a day, and then you¡¯re into manufacturing. If we receive your data before noon, we could typically have that in the box the same day.
Something larger, we¡¯re going to be looking at two weeks to get that to you. The image segmentation is more complex which means the quality assurance is going to be a bit more detailed, and manufacturing is probably going to take three days, and then cleaning post-processing the models is going to take two-three days. We can rush orders if it¡¯s an emergency¡ we¡¯ve turned things around in 24 hours when we¡¯ve had to.
Since founding Mediprint in 2015, Mr Chanin has advised major hospitals on the establishment of their own 3D printing labs and continues to provide the full range of services required to manufacture patient-specific clinical models derived from medical imaging data. His wide-ranging engineering experience affords him an in-depth understanding of each component of the technology, from medical imaging equipment to the manufacturing equipment. That expertise and a dedication to quality, accuracy, and precision have led to the comprehensive Mediprint? Imaging-to-Print System currently in use by healthcare providers around the world today.
Thanks to Brent for explaining what Mediprint do in the 3D medical printing field. If you want to hear more, you can view our webinar with Mediprint and Stratasys on-demand.
Do you have any questions about Simpleware software or need additional information?