Case Study: UT Southwestern improves brain lesion understanding and patient care with Stratasys 3D printing

UT Southwestern advances brain lesion understanding with Stratasys 3D printing down to 0.014 mm

The customer, UT Southwestern, faced a challenge in understanding the intricate details of brain lesions and tumors using traditional 2D imaging like MRI and CT scans. Their Director of Neuroinnovation, Dr. Darin Okuda, sought a better way to visualize these conditions to improve research and patient communication. To address this, they utilized 3D printing solutions from the vendor Stratasys, specifically their PolyJet technology and VeroUltraClear material.

The solution implemented by Stratasys involved creating highly accurate, multi-material 3D printed models of patient-specific brain lesions and tumors. This allowed Dr. Okuda's team to appreciate qualitative characteristics of disease not visible in 2D, leading to new scientific hypotheses about disease progression. The tangible models also transformed patient education and care, providing an intuitive way for doctors to explain conditions and treatments, which improved patient understanding and compliance with their treatment plans.

UT Southwestern