Stratasys Partners With Ricoh for Print-On-Demand Medical Models

Stratasys has signed an agreement with Ricoh USA to provide on-demand 3D-printed anatomic models for clinical settings. Stratasys’ patient-specific 3D solutions combines 3D printing technology from Stratasys, the cloud-based Segmentation-as-a-Service solution from Axial3D and precision additive manufacturing (AM) services from Ricoh into one convenient solution. 

The new service builds on an existing relationship between Ricoh 3D for Healthcare and Stratasys to expand access to 3D-printed medical models. The partners say offering this solution means democratized, wider access to patient-specific 3D-printed models that can improve outcomes and the patient experience, while also enhancing physician education and training.

Anatomic 3D-printed models are realistic, specific visualizations of a patient’s anatomy, enabling practitioners to plan and practice complex surgeries and improve communication between medical staff, the patient and their families. Digital Anatomy technology from Stratasys even enables these models to be biomechanically realistic, with the feel and responsiveness of real bone and tissue.

While this method of surgical planning offers benefits to patients and care teams, the need for up-front capital investments and on-site 3D printing technical expertise are significant barriers to its adoption. It is said this new service removes those barriers to expand access to more hospitals and clinics, and ultimately contributes to better outcomes.

This offering gives clinicians and patients increased access to patient-specific 3D-printed models for preoperative surgical planning, diagnostic use and surgical education. Using these models, clinicians can demonstrate treatment decisions to patients and surgical staff. Surgical planning with patient-specific 3D models can improve clinical outcomes and drive significant savings through improved productivity.

With this collaboration, customers can upload medical files to a secure, cloud-based service where Axial3D’s artificial intelligence-powered software automatically converts medical scans into 3D-printable files. The files are then printed on Stratasys 3D printers at Ricoh’s ISO 13485-certified facility, with the models shipped directly to the care facility. These changes enables a process that normally takes weeks to instead be completed in days, without the need for on-site 3D printing equipment or AM technical expertise.

“With the advancement in imaging techniques and 3D printing technology, we are seeing an increased demand for personalized solutions,” says Ben Klein, general manager, Stratasys patient-specific solutions. “We offer a simplified and scalable, comprehensive solution that increases access to patient-specific, 3D printed models in a fraction of time to help deliver highly personalized treatment and care.”

The partnership builds on the companies’ history of collaboration. Ricoh’s quality control processes, manufacturing expertise and health care experience provide the specialized production capacity necessary to scale access to models produced using Stratasys technology.

“We are providing an opportunity for health care providers to access state-of-the-art, precision additive manufacturing without absorbing the overhead costs,” says Gary Turner, managing director of AM, Ricoh USA. “Offering this solution means democratized, wider access to patient-specific, 3D printed models that can improve outcomes and the patient experience, while also enhancing physician education and training.”

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