Case Study: Bordeaux University Hospital achieves more precise kidney‑sparing surgery and improved patient education with Stratasys J750 3D printing

Bordeaux University Hospital in France enhances kidney operations with full-color, multi-material 3D printing

Bordeaux University Hospital (CHU) in France needed a better way to plan, teach and explain complex kidney tumor removals than conventional 2D scans allowed. To address this, the hospital adopted full-color, multimaterial 3D printing using the Stratasys J750 3D printer from Stratasys to create patient‑specific, ultra‑realistic kidney models for pre‑surgical planning, trainee instruction and patient education.

Using the Stratasys J750, CHU and its Coh@bit fablab produce single‑print, transparent, color‑coded models (arteries red, veins blue, excretory tract yellow, tumor pink) that enable more precise kidney‑sparing surgery, faster planning turnaround (sometimes within a day), and elimination of outsourcing costs. The Stratasys solution improved clinical‑technical collaboration, enhanced trainee preparation, and—according to initial patient questionnaires—increased patient understanding of the surgery by up to 50%.

Bordeaux University Hospital

Jean-Christophe Bernhard

Urology Professor