Augmented Reality & 3D Laboratory

Introduction

Welcome to the Rush AR3D lab. We are an in-house 3D laboratory in the Department of Diagnostic Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, serving the entire Rush Health System.

Medical imaging provides a rich source of data can be used beyond the mere radiograph or MR scan. Following a process called segmentation, these image slices are aggregated together to display anatomical structures in three-dimensions. When a virtual model is completed, it can become either a physical part with 3D Printing (also called additive manufacturing) or clinicians can interact with it three-dimensional space via Augmented/Virtual and Extended Reality.

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Services Offered

We offer four main lines of service as outlined below:

1. Anatomical Models

Anatomical models provide tangible objects that surgeons can use to plan procedures or talk to patients about their cases with their own anatomies. Pre-bending plates or other instrumentation and sizing stents/valves is easier.

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2. Personalized Surgical Instrumentation/Orthotics

Additive manufacturing allows not only the fabrication of complex organic shapes. Additionally, these can be exact replicas of patient anatomical features that help surgeons make accurate cuts or place devices in the correct place without guessing.

Another benefit of using the patient’s anatomy as a design base is that custom orthoses or other devices can be tailor-made for each case using different flexible materials.

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3. Virtual Reality and Advanced Visualization

Interacting with the 3D models in an immersive way is an innovative way to work with the anatomical model, plan and execute surgical procedures.

Advanced visualization can help analyze image-based phenotypes and aid in complex surgeries, either for one case or an entire series. We can help with your image-based study.

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4. Custom Tooling/Prototyping

Sometimes a custom and one-of-a-kind part is needed that cannot be bought off the shelf. For those occasions, we can design in CAD just what’s needed and print it! Phantom holders, supports, brackets, etc.  Anything you need!

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Laboratory Equipment and Capabilities

We feature medical licenses of Materialise Mimics and Realize Medical’s Elucis, print in SLA with the vast catalog of Formlabs resins, and leverage VR with HTC Focus Vive headsets. In addition to SLA resin printing, the laboratory offers Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) using Nylon 11 and 12 powder via the Sinterit Lisa Pro. Over 40 Formlabs materials are available, including resins approved for biomedical use that are also sterilizable.

Past clients served/current collaborators

We have assisted both clinical and research partners throughout the institution, including orthopedic surgery, ENT, neurosurgery, plastic surgery, liver transplant, pediatrics, and cardiology, among others.

Send us your case

Come see us for your clinical and research tooling needs. The laboratory has access to Rush's PACS and can download the case directly from there (CT and MR). 

Important considerations:

• Proper imaging protocol yields better results. Consult with us depending on the anatomy of interest and the current standard of care imaging sequences.
• Inquire with us for more details prior to sending your case.

You can submit an order form using this link: https://redcap.link/AR3DLab_orderform

We are working on an EPIC ordering solution, which means you could order a 3D model the same time your imaging order is submitted. Contact us for pricing and to discuss your specific application.