Case Study: Center for Information Technology Renato Archer achieves accurate, growth‑adjustable skull reconstruction with Stratasys 3D printing

Fortus and Connex printers fill need for highly accurate, multi-material printing

The Center for Information Technology Renato Archer (CTI), a Brazilian government research center focused on 3D technologies, faced a critical medical challenge: designing a cranial prosthesis for a 12-year-old accident victim that would adapt to the child’s skull growth over time. To meet requirements for high accuracy and multi‑material capability, CTI relied on Stratasys systems, including a Fortus 3D Production System (FDM) for durable prototypes and a Connex PolyJet printer for high‑precision, flexible anatomical models.

CTI used Stratasys Fortus FDM printers to produce robust prototype models and the Connex PolyJet system to create high‑accuracy and flexible surgical models (layers as fine as 0.02 mm), enabling iterative design of a growth‑adaptive cranial prosthesis and improved surgical planning. Stratasys technology supported CTI’s wider impact in industry and medicine—CTI reports more than 5,000 rapid‑prototyping projects overall, over 3,000 medical cases through its ProMed program, and support to 180 hospitals in 2012–2013.

Center for Information Technology Renato Archer

Jorge Vicente Lopes da Silva

Head of 3D Technologies Division