MSI PI Michael McAlpine (associate professor, Mechanical Engineering) is the lead researcher on a recent project to use 3D printing technology to create artificial models of organs. These models can be used by surgeons to plan and practice for surgery.
The paper can be read on the website of the journal Advanced Materials Technologies: 3D Printed Organ Models With Physical Properties of Tissue and Integrated Sensors.
Professor McAlpine uses software available through MSI for simulation, computer-aided engineering, data visualization, and image processing. Another author on this study, Dr. Robert Sweet from the University of Washington, was an MSI PI when he worked at the University of Minnesota; he used MSI to develop computer models for surgical training.
Several media outlets have published stories about this research:
- University of Minnesota News Service: Researchers 3D Print Lifelike Artificial Organ Models
- Fox 9: 3-D printing technology at U of M changing surgery preparation
- Kare11: U of M 3D printing tech changes surgical outcomes
- KSTP: New 3D Technology at U of M Can Provide Detailed Organ Replicas
- Twin Cities Business: Researchers Led by U of M Develop New Technology to 3D Print Lifelike Organs
- Big Ten Network: How a Minnesota-developed, 3D-printed Model is Helping Surgeons Hone Their Skills