The Regional University Hospital of Brest (CHU de Brest) in France has seen significant improvements in its pre-operative planning procedures following the deployment of Stratasys’ new J5 MediJet photopolymer 3D printer. Installation of the device allows surgeons to create very accurate and detailed anatomical models that reflect the anatomy of a specific patient. They are then used before the actual surgery, helping to reduce surgical risk and time spent in the operating room.
According to Samuel Guigo, a radiologist and 3D printing technician at CHU, the realistic sophistication of the 3D printed models, produced with the multi-material and multi-color J5 MediJet 3D printer, sets a new standard for medical modeling. Especially when they are combined with the previous one-material and one-color applications. “Our surgeons are much better equipped and prepared before entering the operating room, which measurably reduces the risks associated with surgery by improving safety,” explains Guigo.
For example, when preparing a vascular surgery, millimeter precision is required. With the J5 MediJet, not only can surgeons achieve this, but they also have the ability to re-3D print the models to iterate and achieve optimal results, recreating them with full consistency as required.
The use of Stratasys’ advanced 3D printing technology is, Guigo explains, a key factor in the quality of the anatomical models the hospital can produce. This is most evident with the ElasticoTM photopolymer material. “We can produce models on the MediJet with much more realism than our other 3D printing technologies allow. For example, with Elastico, the tactile feel and smoothness of the surface much better reflects the patient’s soft arteries,” he says.
The lack of a 3D printer in the hospital’s resources meant that the production of some models had to be outsourced in advance. Nevertheless, with a level of quality that did not meet the hospital’s requirements, along with the growing need to better manage the growing volumes, acquiring its own J5 MediJet made logical business sense.
In addition to pre-operative preparation, the use of patient-specific medical models printed on the J5 MediJet for on-demand training can improve patient outcomes by reducing complications and shortening overall recovery time and length of hospital stay. In addition, with a highly accurate patient-specific 3D printed medical model, surgeons can better explain specific pathologies and procedures to patients before surgery, which has been proven to improve understanding of therapy and patient satisfaction.
The J5 MediJet installation at CHU de Brest was achieved with the support of the hospital’s Innoveo Endowment Fund, which aims to support projects that improve care, quality of life and comfort for patients. Since the installation of the J5, MediJet has rapidly expanded into various hospital departments, including interventional neuroradiology, orthopedic surgery, vascular surgery, neurosurgery, as well as biomedical services.
In addition, as part of the government’s digital health acceleration strategy, W.INN – an innovation center set up by CHU de Brest in 2021 – was recently designated as an external experimental hub. As such, CHU is further positioned as a key player in medical innovation at local, regional and national levels.
Looking ahead, CHU’s next goal is to create a dedicated 3D printing department to meet the needs of hospital wards, research and training teams. As the hospital focuses on promoting the general application of the technology in the medical sector, there is also a vision to produce 3D printed anatomical models for other hospitals as well as biomedical engineering schools.
Source: Stratasys press materials
