Anatomics :: BioModels (Medical RP Models) for Surgery Planning

BioModels are exact physical replicas of scanned anatomy - anatomical models from 3D medical imaging. Anatomics offers BioModels for surgical planning in a range of materials. The material used depends on the Rapid Prototyping (RP) technology employed. Each material has different properties and suitability for BioModelling.

Anatomics utilises the following RP technologies for BioModel production:

1. StereoLithographic Apparatus (SLA) with medical grade resin. Laser technology is used to solidify photo-sensitive resin.
2. PolyJet 3D Printer with medical grade resin. UV lamps solidify medical grade resin jetted from multiple printheads.
3. Laser Sinterer (LS). Powdered plastic is selectively solidified using a laser.

Created with a 3D Systems SLA and our own software, an Anatomics SLA BioModel is the state-of-the-art in BioModel visualisation. Made in sub-millimetre layers using a medical grade resin, these BioModels are fully sterilisable and non-toxic for use during surgery. SLA BioModels can be used for surgical planning and rehearsal, custom implant design, and as a communication aid for patients and colleagues. All SLA BioModels are semi-transparent allowing visualisation of internal structures such as sinuses. Selective colouration can be introduced into BioModels to allow enhanced visualisation of structures such as teeth, tumours, neurovascular canals, and fixating devices. BioModels can also be used to customise implants and plates pre-operatively, or shape implants and bone grafts during surgery.

SLA BioModel with selective colouration, and cranial and spinal BioModels.

PolyJet 3D Printing technology from Objet Geometries combines ink-jet technology with photopolymers. The drop-on-demand ink-jet print head assembly deposits fine droplets of resin (both model material and support material) as a UV lamp immediately cures the material. This occurs in layers as thin as 0.016 mm. This results in BioModels with intricate detail and surface finish.

PolyJet BioModel of a skull.PolyJet 3D Printer

A Laser Sinterer (LS) from 3D Systems produces BioModels from nylon. Such BioModels are robust and opaque white to give a bone like appearance. Also useful to model large flat geometries.

LS BioModels. Note opaque bone like appearance.

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