3D Printing of Clinical CT Data Sets for Medical, Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Applications

Student: Charley Berno, 2014-2015

Sponsor: Prof. Matthew Leevy, Biological Sciences, Notre Dame, IN

Medical Data Printers has recently validated a protocol for the rapid and inexpensive production of high-resolution physical plastic models derived from 3D printing of pre-clinical X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) data sets. Recent experiments indicate that the company can translate its protocol for use with clinical CT data derived from human patients. Ear/Nose/Throat (ENT) doctors could be provided with personalized, high-resolution, 3D physical models of a given patient’s head in which the airways are preserved, and on which the structure of the sinuses are completely preserved. These models will be used to practice complicated sinus surgeries ahead of an operation, with the goal of reducing overall surgical time on the patient, and reducing errors.