Case Study: University of California, Berkeley achieves higher-resolution MRI diagnostics with Carbon

Improving MRI Diagnostics with Custom Patient Guides at UC Berkeley

The University of California, Berkeley faced the challenge of improving MRI diagnostics hampered by patient motion and low signal-to-noise ratio from standard, one-size-fits-all surface coils. Working in Professor Ana Arias and Michael Lustig’s lab, PhD candidate Alla Zamarayeva used Carbon’s Digital Light Synthesis™ (Carbon DLS™) process and Carbon Cyanate Ester 221 (CE-221) high-temperature, biocompatible 3D printing material to create patient-specific, motion-restricting cervical collars with integrated surface coils.

Using Carbon’s DLS process and CE-221 substrate, the team 3D printed custom-fit collars, applied metal conductors post-print, and tracked parts via Carbon’s software, enabling true one-off, patient-centric production that withstands high-temperature coil fabrication. Carbon-enabled devices produced significantly improved signal-to-noise ratio in phantom and human tests and yielded higher-resolution T1 and T2 images, improving diagnostic detail and opening possibilities for MRI-guided therapies and more accurate procedure planning.

University of California, Berkeley

Ana Arias

Professor