BioMimics from Stratasys, are fully functional, 3D-printed models of the human heart and bones, developed to assist hospitals, researchers, and medical device manufacturers.
According to Stratasys, these anatomical models are the most complex and accurate in the market as it pertains to medical device testing and education.
In order to build the models, the Stratasys PolyJet 3D printer constructs layers of various materials which are designed to mimic soft tissue and hard bones.
“For the first time in terms of replicating the human body, we can go from all of your design and development work in the digital domain and turn it into something physical,” said Scott Rader, general manager of healthcare solutions at Stratasys. “This is democratization of healthcare in terms of education, training, and providing tools for medical manufacturers to be able to ensure that their devices are designed correctly.”
At the moment, bones, discs, ligaments, and hearts (both adult and pediatric), are available, and Stratasys plans to release vascular system models in the near future.
In addition, Stratasys is excited about custom solution capabilities in which BioMimics can be utilized in order to replicate a patient scan for medical professionals.
“This is going to open up a new paradigm for how medical models are used,” Gaisford said. “We’re going to be able to print the pathologies that the device is expected to target, which will break down a lot of the barriers and constraints that medical device companies have in deciding when to make these investments in the clinical pre-testing environment.”
