IU Health has switched on a new piece of high-tech gear at IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, opening a hospital-based, FDA-cleared 3D print studio that turns medical imaging into life-size patient models. The studio is built to convert CT and MRI scans into detailed, physical replicas of a patient’s anatomy that surgeons can hold, study and even rehearse on before heading into the operating room. Hospital leaders say the setup, from multi-material 3D printers to post-processing equipment, is designed to help shorten time in the OR and improve surgical outcomes.
How the studio will work
The lab takes CT and MRI images, segments them into printable files and produces tactile models for preoperative planning, medical education and conversations with patients, as reported by WTHR. According to WTHR, the studio has FDA clearance for specific patient-focused anatomical models and is set up to support surgeons, residents and medical students working at Methodist Hospital.
Built from an existing innovations program
IU Health did not jump into 3D printing cold. The health system launched its 3D Innovations Lab in 2017, then expanded that program into the 16 Tech innovation district as it took on a wider range of surgical and educational projects. That in-house experience laid the groundwork for the new studio, helping IU Health develop the technical workflows and clinical partnerships needed to scale a regulated, hospital-based operation, as outlined by IU Health.
Part of a growing national trend
This move puts Methodist Hospital in the mix with a growing group of U.S. hospitals building FDA-cleared, point-of-care 3D manufacturing facilities to speed surgical planning and bolster training. One example is Ricoh’s hospital-focused 3D initiative and its RICOH 3D Innovation Studio at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, which has been reported to shorten operations and prompt surgeons to change their strategy after studying patient-specific printed models, according to 3D Printing Industry.
What this means for Indy patients
Clinicians say that having a physical, patient-specific model on the table makes complex anatomy easier to understand, which can reduce surprises in the operating room and help speed up procedures. Those advantages can translate into fewer complications and quicker recoveries, according to WTHR. IU Health also notes that the studio will serve as an educational hub for trainees, building hands-on 3D planning into curricula for residents and medical students.
Next steps
The studio is already up and running at Methodist Hospital and is slated to begin supporting clinical cases and training sessions in the coming weeks. During that rollout, clinical teams will validate workflows and gradually expand access. Hospital officials say the effort will initially center on complex, high-impact cases, with plans to widen its reach across the IU Health system over time.
