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  • Dr. Mike

    A Ridiculously Easy Way to Convert CT Scans to 3D Printable Bone STL Models for Free in Minutes

    By Dr. Mike

    Please note the democratiz3D service was previously named "Imag3D" In this tutorial you will learn how to quickly and easily make 3D printable bone models from medical CT scans using the free online service democratiz3D®. The method described here requires no prior knowledge of medical imaging or 3D printing software. Creation of your first model can be completed in as little as 10 minutes.   You can download the files used in this tutorial by clicking on this link. You must have
    • 11 comments
    • 86,818 views
  • valchanov

    Medical 3D artist guide - how to sell your work.

    By valchanov

    In the last few decades, the 4th industrial revolution began - a significant advance in the 3D technology and an emerging of a brand new production method - the computer-controlled additive/subtractive manufacturing. It is considered "the new wheel" and it gives the ability to generate a detailed three dimensional object with complicated geometry from various materials (metals, polymers, clay, biological macro molecules) with a robot, controlled by a computer. The size of the object don't really
    • 0 comments
    • 1,498 views
  • Angel Sosa

    Embodi3d´s Top 20 downloaded of 2019!

    By Angel Sosa

    This has been an amazing year for us at Embodi3d and we'd like to share with you the best 3d medical printing models of 2019       1. A great brain 3d model, the first place! uploaded by Osamanyuad.   This example shows the cortex which is a thin layer of the brain that covers the outer portion (1.5mm to 5mm) of the cerebrum.         2.  A heart 3D printed model uploaded by Tropmal.   It shows the coronary arteries that supply oxy
    • 0 comments
    • 2,027 views
  • embodi3d

    Selling Your Medical Model Files on Embodi3D.com

    By embodi3d

    Dear Community Members, After many months of work, we are happy to announce the addition of a feature that will allow you to sell medical models you have designed on Embodi3D.com. While we always have encouraged our members to consider allowing their medical STL files to be downloaded for free, we understand that when a ton of time is invested in creating a valuable and high-quality model, it is reasonable to ask for something in return. Now Embodi3D members have two options: 1) You can share
    • 0 comments
    • 1,154 views
  • valchanov

    Medical 3D printing 101

    By valchanov

    Bones   The main advantage of the orthopedical presurgical 3d printed models is the possibility to create an accurate model, which can be used for metal osteosynthesis premodelling - the surgeons can prepare (bend, twist, accommodate) the implants prior the operation. After a sterilisation (autoclaving, UV-light, gamma-ray etc etc), those implants can be used in the planned surgery, which will decrease the overall surgery time (in some cases with more than an hour) with all it's advant
    • 0 comments
    • 1,170 views
3D Printing in Medicine

How to Easily Tell the Difference Between MRI and CT Scan

If you are planning on using the democratiz3D service to automatically convert a medical scan to a 3D printable STL model, or you just happen to be working with medical scans for another reason, it is important to know if you are working with a CT (Computed Tomography or CAT) or MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan. In this tutorial I'll show you how to quickly and easily tell the difference between a CT and MRI.   I am a board-certified radiologist, and spent years mastering the subt
Dr. Mike

Dr. Mike

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The Embodi3D.com Blog

Review Writing Contest Winner for April 2017

In April 2017, embodi3D held its first review writing contest. Many great reviews were posted and we selected a review by Cris as the winner. She is the recipient of the $25 Amazon gift certificate. Congratulations Cris!     She reviewed an anatomically accurate scapula STL file.  She wrote a nice review including an image of the scapula she printed using the file uploaded by health_physics. In her review Cris also includes a picture of her 3D printer and helpful 3D printing
embodi3d

embodi3d

0
The Embodi3D.com Blog

democratiz3D is Free Online Medical 3D Printing Software

The Embodi3D website offers a large and ever-growing library of 3D printable files that are available for free to anyone who signs up for a free account. Images include files from normal anatomy to those related to paleontology to complex musculoskeletal tumors. This site was founded by a practicing interventional radiologist with a passion for 3D printing and perfecting an easier method for converting files into those that may be downloaded and printed—a medical 3D printing application called d
embodi3d

embodi3d

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The Embodi3D.com Blog

embodi3D April 2017 Newsletter

Welcome to our April 2017 newsletter! Read on to learn how you can participate in our review writing contest and win an Amazon gift certificate, what improvements we have made to democratiz3D, and what our medical device development service offers.   3D Printable File Review Writing Contest Download a file, post a review and you are automatically entered to win a $25 Amazon gift certificate. We will award the prize to the writer of the best review. The contest runs the month of Ap
embodi3d

embodi3d

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Mike at Medical Models

Segmentation of a foot MRI scan

So I have seen some questions here on embodi3D asking how to work with MRI data.  I believe the main issue to be with attempting to segment the data using a threshold method.  The democratiz3D feature of the website simplifies the segmentation process but as far as I can tell relies on thresholding which can work somewhat well for CT scans but for MRI is almost certain to fail.  Using 3DSlicer I show the advantage of using a region growing method (FastGrowCut) vs threshold.  
mikefazz

mikefazz

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Devarsh Vyas's Biomedical 3D Printing Blogs

Customized Medical Devices- A new trend in Medical 3D Printing

3D printing technologies have opened up the capabilities for customization in a wide variety of applications in the medical field. Using bio-compatible and drug-contact materials, medical devices can be produced that are perfectly suited for a particular individual. Another trend enabled by 3D printing is mass customization, in that multiple individualized items can be produced simultaneously, saving time and energy while improving manufacturing efficiency. 3D printers are used to manufactu
DevarshVyas

DevarshVyas

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Matt Johnson's Biomedical 3D Printing Blog

Scientists Relying on 3D Printing to Conquer Zika Virus

Very few infectious diseases in recent years have commanded the kind of attention and concern that Zika Virus has. Although Zika outbreaks have been reported in Africa, Southeast Asia and other parts of the world since the 1952, recent announcement by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirming its link with microcephaly has forced everyone to sit up and take notice. The CDC estimates that the current pandemic is widespread with at least 50 countries reporting active Zika tran
mattjohnson

mattjohnson

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Mike at Medical Models

3D Printed Wrist Brace

So I began to develop some pain in my right wrist which was later diagnosed as tendinitis. At the same time I had been looking at the CT scan of my abdomen and noticed they also captured my right hand as it was resting on my stomach during the scan (I had injured my right shoulder again).     I recalled a concept project a while back I had seen: the CORTEX brace. It presented the idea of replacing the typical plaster cast with a 3D printed one which would prevent the iss
mikefazz

mikefazz

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Matt Johnson's Biomedical 3D Printing Blog

How 3D Printed Surgical Tools are Helping Surgeons Improve Patient Outcomes

Physicians across the globe have relied on surgical interventions for centuries to treat complex illnesses and injuries. High quality surgical instruments have played an important role in their success. Nonetheless, healthcare professionals are constantly looking for tools that would improve patient outcomes and minimize the risk of unwanted complications. In recent times, three-dimensional (3D) medical printing and bioprinting technologies have allowed doctors and engineers to develop innovativ
mattjohnson

mattjohnson

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Matt Johnson's Biomedical 3D Printing Blog

Fighting Obesity with 3D Printing

Since the 1980s, three-dimensional (3D) medical printing and bioprinting technologies have been influencing almost every aspect of the human life. Most people are, however, surprised at the kind of impact additive printing is having in the field of medicine. The technology is helping diagnose and treat complex illnesses ranging from cancer and heart disease to arthritis and infections. In recent months, several innovative 3D tools have also been created to overcome obesity. More than two-thirds
mattjohnson

mattjohnson

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Devarsh Vyas's Biomedical 3D Printing Blogs

Hacks to make your medical 3D Print Cheaper

Cutting down costs for 3D prints is the number one concern for many Doctors and Patients. In order to achieve this, we need to understand how costs for 3D prints are calculated. Probably the most important variable is the amount of material that is needed for printing your medical object. So all we need to do is to make sure to use as little material as possible.   Here are our some top tips for more successful 3D printing. They're short and to the point, and if you follow them, you'l
DevarshVyas

DevarshVyas

1
Mike at Medical Models

Region Growing Image Segmentation

I wanted to take some time to look into a brief history of medical image segmentation before moving into what I consider the more modern method of segmentation.  (be warned video is rather long)     First to be clear the goal of segmentation is to separate the bones or anatomy of interest from 3D scan data.  This is done most easily when there is a sharp contrast between the anatomy of interest and what surrounds it.  If you have a CT scan of an engine block this is pret
mikefazz

mikefazz

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Mike at Medical Models

Registration with 3DSlicer

In this entry we look at registering one scan to another from the same subject pre and post op.     There may come a time when you have multiple scans of the same subject which you want to compare to each other.  This could be a CT and an MRI or a pre and post op scan as in this example.  Since the scans were taken at different times and possibly different places they will not line up with each other when they are loaded.  Registration is the process that can find the tr
mikefazz

mikefazz

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Mike at Medical Models

Dicom Primer

In this tutorial I will cover some of the basics on working with dicom data with a focus on anatomizing, and reading into medical imaging software as well as how to potentially fix problematic scans.     So first of all what is DICOM data?  It is a standard file type for basically all medical imaging devices (CT, MRI, US, PET, X-ray, etc), DICOM stands for Digital Imaging and COmmunication in Medicine and along with the file format, and the tags, it is designed to be tra
mikefazz

mikefazz

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The Embodi3D.com Blog

embodi3D November 2016 Newsletter

Welcome to our November 2016 newsletter! We will discuss our medical 3D printing tool and highlight a new website feature.   Dr. Mike is at the RSNA Annual Meeting in Chicago. If you are attending the conference, make sure to check out the expanded 3D printing exhibits and attend one of Dr. Mike’s workshops “3D Printing Hands-on with Open Source Software”.   democratiz3D: Medical 3D Printing for All At the end of September we launched a tool that converts a medical CT sc
embodi3d

embodi3d

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3D Printing in Medicine

Creating 3D Printable Medical Models and STL Files for Free: Online Services vs. Desktop Software - Slicer and Meshmixer

Note: This tutorial accompanies a workshop I presented at the 2016 Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) meeting. The workflow and techniques presented in this tutorial and the conference workshop are identical.     In this tutorial we will be using two different ways to create a 3-D printable medical model of a head and neck which will be derived from a real contrast-enhanced CT scan. The model will show detailed anatomy of the bones, as well as the veins and arteries
Dr. Mike

Dr. Mike

0
3D Printing in Medicine

How to Create a Hollow Shell from a Medical STL File Using MeshMixer

In this brief tutorial we will go over how to use Meshmixer to create a hollow shell from a medical 3D printable STL file. Hollowing out the shell, as shown in the pictures below, can allow you to 3D print the model using much less material that printing a solid piece. The print will take less time and cost less money.   For this tutorial we will use a head that we created from a real medical CT scan in a prior tutorial, " Easily Create 3D Printable Muscle and Skin STL Files from Medic
Dr. Mike

Dr. Mike

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Devarsh Vyas's Biomedical 3D Printing Blogs

Role of 3D Printing in Scoliosis Correction Surgery

Role of 3D Printing in Scoliosis Correction Surgery     Scoliosis is a medical condition in which a person's spine has a sideways curve. The curve is usually "S" or "C" shaped. Scoliosis occurs most often during the growth spurt just before puberty.  In some cases, the person suffering from the disease can be left unable to stand up straight, to walk, or even, in the most severe cases, to breathe properly. In the most severe scoliosis cases, however, surgery is the only option. Ba
DevarshVyas

DevarshVyas

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Matt Johnson's Biomedical 3D Printing Blog

Increasing Role of 3D Printing in Cancer Screening

In spite of extensive research, the medical fraternity has not reached a consensus on what causes cancer and how it should be treated. Nonetheless, almost everyone agrees that early and accurate diagnosis is crucial for successful recovery. In fact, early detection can lead to a 70 percent decline in cervical cancer mortality, as per the Canary Foundation. Early diagnoses of colon cancer can increase the patient’s five-year survival rate from 11 percent to 91 percent. Almost 100 percent of the p
mattjohnson

mattjohnson

0
3D Printing in Medicine

Easily Create 3D Printable Muscle and Skin STL Files from Medical CT Scans

In this tutorial we will learn how to use the free medical imaging conversion service on embodi3D.com to create detailed anatomic muscle and skin 3D printable models in STL file format from medical CT scans. Muscle models show the detailed musculature by subtracting away the skin and fat. Even when created from a scan of an obese person, the model looks like it comes from a bodybuilder, Figure 1A. Skin models show an exact replica of the skin surface. The finest details are captured, including w
Dr. Mike

Dr. Mike

2
Cool Medical 3D-Printing

Will 3D printed organs-on-chips replace animal testing?

Harvard University researchers have 3D printed the first organ-on-a-chip with integrated sensors. This new technology could revolutionize the biomedical research field, which has relied on expensive and time-consuming animal studies and cell cultures for decades. Organs-on-chips, or microphysiological systems (MPS), are microchips that recapitulate the microarchitecture and functions of living human organs in vitro. The Wyss Institute at Harvard University explains MPS as follows: “Each in
Els

Els

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Matt Johnson's Biomedical 3D Printing Blog

Overcome Hair Loss with 3D Printing

Significant thinning or loss of hair can have a detrimental impact on the individual’s overall quality of life. Men and women with unhealthy hair often suffer from emotional issues and low self-esteem. The condition may also be indicative of an underlying medical problem. As per the American Hair Loss Association, two-thirds of American men experience some hair loss by the age of 35 and about 80 percent of them have significant thinning of hair by the age of 50. Approximately half of women over
mattjohnson

mattjohnson

0
Valchanov's Blog

Atlas and Axis, 3D PDF

Hello My recent anatomy projects forced me to start importing my 3d models into 3d pdf documents. So I'll share with you some of my findings. The positive things about 3d pdf's are: 1. You can import a big sized 3d model and compress it into a small 3d pdf. 40 Mb stl model is converted into 750 Kb pdf. 2. You can run the 3d pdf on every computer with the recent versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader. Which means literally EVERY computer. 3. You can rotate, pan, zoom in and zoo
valchanov

valchanov

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