French Hospital Enhances Complex Kidney Cancer Surgery Planning with Stratasys Color Multi-Material 3D Printing

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October 19, 2015
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French Hospital Enhances Complex Kidney Cancer Surgery Planning with Stratasys Color Multi-Material 3D Printing

MINNEAPOLIS and REHOVOT, Israel, October 19, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

       
        - CHU Bordeaux is one of the first hospitals worldwide to pioneer kidney tumor
          removal by using 3D printed color multi-material models pre-surgery to locate depth of
          kidney tumors 
        - 3D printed models used as big driver to train tomorrow's surgeons 
        - Easier visualization of their own organ increases patient understanding of procedures
          by up to 50% 

    Stratasys Ltd [http://www.stratasys.com ]. (Nasdaq:SSYS), the 3D printing and additive
manufacturing solutions company, today announced that its color, multi-material technology
is being successfully deployed to aid cancer surgeons in treating patients. Physicians use
the models during pre-surgery planning of complicated kidney tumor removal, helping to
perform precise and successful kidney-sparing surgery and improving patient outcomes. The
3D printed models are also used to improve surgeon training, as well as enhancing the
explanatory process towards patients.

         (Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151018/277988 )

         (Photo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151018/277989 )

    The advanced surgical process, which utilizes transparent and color 3D printed models
produced on Stratasys' color, multi-material 3D Printer, the Objet500 Connex3
[http://www.stratasys.com/3d-printers/production-series/connex3-systems ] , is being
pioneered by the Department of Urology and Kidney Transplantation at the University
Hospital (CHU) de Bordeaux, in France. According to CHU surgeon Dr Jean-Christophe
Bernhard, this is currently the only hospital in France - and one of the first in the
world - to deploy Stratasys' multi-color, multi-material 3D printing technology for
complex kidney tumor removal cases.

    "Having a 3D printed model comprising the patient's kidney tumor, main arteries and
vessels - each in a different color - provides an accurate picture of what we will see
during operations," says Dr Bernhard.

    "Importantly, the ability to visualize the specific location of a tumor in relation to
these other elements, all in three dimensions, greatly facilitates our task and is not
something that is easily achievable from a 2D scan," he adds.

    Increasing the opportunity for kidney-sparing surgery 

    According to Dr Bernhard, the clearer view offered by the 3D printed model may
increase the ability to perform precise and successful kidney-sparing surgery. The
pre-surgery planning aids in identifying and avoiding damage to the delicate nearby
arteries and vessels which can result in complete kidney removal. Sparing the patient's
kidney is important because it reduces the chance of subsequently suffering from chronic
kidney disease.

    "3D printing technology has effectively heralded a new dawn," continues Dr Bernhard.
"A scan gives us good information, but it's in 2D. This relies on the surgeon to mentally
reconstruct the tumor volume in 3D and estimate its location inside of the total volume of
the kidney. The same process has to be done to clearly understand the relations between
the tumor, the vessels (arteries and veins) and the collecting system. As you can imagine,
this is difficult and time-consuming for the surgeon.

    "Conversely, having a 3D printed kidney model in your hands that corresponds
specifically to that of the patient you're going to operate on quite literally offers me a
view from a new perspective. The only thing more accurate than that is the patient himself,
" he adds.

    The CHU de Bordeaux uses three Stratasys PolyJet materials: transparent VeroClear to
show the volume mass of the kidney itself, red for the arteries and yellow for the
excretory tract. The red and yellow is then mixed on-the-fly - unique to Stratasys
multi-material capabilities - to produce the all-important orange color of the tumor.

    "The Stratasys transparent material is of fundamental importance as it allows us to
see inside and estimate the depth at which the tumor resides," explains Dr Bernhard. "It
enables us to see the arteries and the cavities that collect urine, so we can see if any
of the arteries are touching the tumor. We need to remove the tumor, but not at the
expense of the other vital elements that together enable the kidney to do its job. Finding
that balance is much easier to achieve thanks to 3D printing."

    Dr Bernhard also believes that use of 3D printed models will not be restricted to
kidney surgery, and sees them being equally useful for any organ sparing surgeries.

    Training the surgeons of tomorrow 

    Stratasys 3D printing solutions also significantly strengthens the CHU's capabilities
from an instructional standpoint. For Dr Bernhard, this is a fundamental benefit of 3D
printing and one that he sees making a big impact within the medical sector long-term.

    "I think this technology will be a big driver in terms of shaping the future of
teaching and surgical training," he says. "Having access to a 3D printed model that is
completely accurate to the one that you're going to operate, not only enables you to train
yourself on the operation, but it also greatly improves our ability to more accurately
convey surgical procedures to students - who of course are the surgeons of tomorrow."

    Reassurance by improved patient understanding 

    Another major benefit for the CHU of Bordeaux and Dr Bernhard is the ability to use
the 3D printed models to more easily explain procedures to patients prior to surgery,
thereby offering increased reassurance.

    "Describing kidney tumor removal with 2D scan or a diagram will invariably leave most
patients somewhat bewildered," he explains. "Presenting them with a 3D printed model that
clearly shows the tumor puts them at ease and enables the patient to grasp exactly what
we're going to do. Indeed, research from patient questionnaires shows that having 3D
printed models increases their understanding of the surgery by more than 50%, so it's a
considerable benefit in terms of overall patient care." [1]

    Commenting on the use of 3D printing technology at the hospital, Scott Rader, General
Manager of Medical Solutions at Stratasys, says, "By putting exactly what the surgeon
needs to see right in his hands, the pioneering use of Stratasys color multi-material 3D
printing technology at the CHU de Bordeaux demonstrates its capability to improve medical
operations by decreasing complexities to make the surgeon's role easier. Moreover, by
enhancing procedures in this way, the prospect of organ-conserving surgery is increased,
resulting in a far more favorable outcome for patients."

    ----------

    1. Bernhard JC, Isotani S, Matsugasumi T, et al. Personalized 3D printed model of
kidney and tumor anatomy: a useful tool for patient education. World J Urol. 2015 Jul 11. 

    For more than 25 years, Stratasys Ltd. (NASDAQ:SSYS) has been a defining force and
dominant player in 3D printing and additive manufacturing - shaping the way things are
made. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Rehovot, Israel, the company empowers
customers across a broad range of vertical markets by enabling new paradigms for design
and manufacturing. The company's solutions provide customers with unmatched design freedom
and manufacturing flexibility - reducing time-to-market and lowering development costs,
while improving designs and communications. Stratasys subsidiaries include MakerBot and
Solidscape and the Stratasys ecosystem includes 3D printers producing prototypes and
parts; a wide range of 3D printing materials; parts on-demand via Stratasys Direct
Manufacturing; strategic consulting and professional services; and Thingiverse/GrabCAD
communities with 5+ million free design components, printable files. With 3,000 employees
and 800 granted or pending additive manufacturing patents, Stratasys has received more
than 30 technology and leadership awards. Visit us online at: http://www.stratasys.com
or http://blog.stratasys.com

    Stratasys is a registered trademarks of Stratasys Ltd. and/or its subsidiaries or
affiliates.

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    Photo:
    http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151018/277988

    http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151018/277989

Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151018/277988
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151018/277989
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151018/277988
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151018/277989
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Stratasys Ltd.

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