Virtual modelling and additive manufacturing for clinical and research applications in mini-invasive surgery
3D4Med is the first clinical 3D printing laboratory in Italy and one of the first worldwide. The lab was born with the intention of integrating 3D printing technology into the daily clinical-assistance activity of the Hospital. 3D Printing technology offers the possibility of creating products of high geometric complexity with significantly lower costs and times compared to traditional production technologies. These features are particularly suitable for multiple applications in the medical field, responding to a growing attention to the personalization of the therapeutic and care plan.
The lab is equipped with all the hardware and software necessary to satisfy a wide range of requests, ranging from the production of patient-specific anatomical models for pre-operative surgical planning to the development of instrumentation for individual patients and phantoms for the simulation of surgical procedures, largely employed for educational purposes.
- Pugliese L., Marconi S., Negrello E., Mauri V., Peri A., Gallo V., Auricchio F., Pietrabissa A. The clinical use of 3D printing in surgery. Updates in Surgery, 2018;
- Marconi S., Negrello E., Mauri V., Pugliese L., Peri A., Argenti F., Auricchio F., Pietrabissa A. Toward the improvement of 3d-printed vessels’ anatomical models for robotic surgery training. The International Journal of Artificial Organs, 2019;
- Pietrabissa A., Marconi S., Negrello E., Mauri V., Peri A., Pugliese L., Marone E.M., Auricchio F. An overview on 3D printing for abdominal surgery. Surgical Endoscopy, 2020;
- Marconi S., Pugliese L., Botti M., Peri A., Cavazzi E., Latteri S., Auricchio F., Pietrabissa A. Value of 3D printing for the comprehension of surgical anatomy. Surgical Endoscopy, 2017;
- Pietrabissa A., Marconi S., Peri A., Pugliese L., Cavazzi E., Vinci A., Botti M., Auricchio F. From CT scanning to 3-D printing technology for the preoperative planning in laparoscopic splenectomy. Surgical Endoscopy, 2016.
Available Technology: 3D Printers on-site (Hardware)
- Objet260 Connex3 – Stratasys®: Material Jetting 3D Printer (Phtopolymer Resins);
- Projet460 Plus – 3DSystems®: Binder Jetting 3D Printer (Chalck Powder);
- Form2 Desktop SLA – FormLabs®: Strereolithography 3D Printer (Photopolymer Resins);
Available Technology: 3D Printers @Protolab (Hardware)
- J750 Digital Anatomy – Stratasys®: Material Jetting 3D Printer (Phtopolymer Resins);
- MJF 580 – HP®: Multi Jet Fusion 3D Printer (Nylon PA12);
- Arburg Freeformer 200-3X (Thermoplastic granules);
Other technologies available at protolab
- Renishaw AM400 – Renishaw®: Selective Laser Sintering 3D Printer (Metal Powders);
- 3NTR A4v3 and A4v2 – 3NTR®: Fused Filament Fabrication 3D Printers (Thermoplastic Filaments);
- LeapFrog Creatr HS and Dual Extruder – LeapFrog®: Fused Filament Fabrication 3D Printers (Thermoplastic Filaments);
- MarkForged X7 Industrial – MarkForged®: Fused Filament Fabrication 3D Printer (Thermoplastic Filaments);
- Apium P220 – Apium®: Fused Filament Fabrication 3D Printer (Thermoplastic Filaments & Technopolymers);
- CMX600V – DMG Mori®: Computer Numerical Control System;
- Metal and MJF Post-Processing Instrumentation: Industrial oven, sandblasters, sifter.
Ricerca Corrente “An Innovative Framework for Heart and Lung Transplantation Planning. From 3D virtual matching analysis to 3D printed simulation platform”. PI: Stefania Marconi, Co-PI: Pasquale Totaro. Starting: 01/09/2023 - Ending: 01/09/2025
- HP® Company: HP MJF Tech Center for Medical Applications
In 2020 3D4MED proudly became HP Multi Jet Fusion Tech Center for Medicine. The Company provided an HP MJF 580 3D Printer to 3D4MED with the aim of supporting the production of patient-specific anatomical models for surgical planning and training and the research on the use of its technology in HealthCare.
HP MJF 580 can produce high complex patient-specific models, medical instrument and equipment with fine details, high mechanical performance and full-chromatic scale. Thanks to a voxel-control system, HP MJF 580 can produce accurate and functional parts with Nylon PA12 material in order to respond to a wide range of clinical and surgical requests and needs from all clinical-surgical specialties.
- Stratasys Company: Scientific and Research Collaboration
In 2020 3D4MED proudly became a Stratasys Research Partner. The Company provided a J750 Digital Anatomy 3D Printer to 3D4MED with the aim of supporting an intense research collaboration on Stratasys 3D printing photopolymer resins and medical materials’ presets. J750 Digital Anatomy 3D transforms product design with full color 3D printing and texture mapping to create realistic models and prototypes. With its new three unique digital materials and an extensive library of anatomical presets, the J750 allows to create models capable of reproducing a wide range of mechanical properties -including soft tissues – for an ultra-realistic anatomical simulation.
- Arburg: Scientific and Research Collaboration
In 2023 3D4MED proudly became a Arburg Research Partner.
The Company provided a Arburg Freeformer 200-3X 3D Printer to 3D4MED with the aim of supporting the research specifically on highly deformable biocompatible materials. Freeformer technology allows to process thermoplastic materials in the form of granules, overcoming the limits imposed by the used a filament as in Fused Filament Fabrication technologies.
- Group Leader: Ferdinando Auricchio.
- Group Coordinator: Stefania Marconi.
- Group Members: Valeria Mauri, Mariagrazia Zaccara, Giacomo Zanellati.
- External Members: PROTOLAB - Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture (DICAr).
- Collaborators: Gianluca Alaimo, Alberto Cattenone, Stefano Serioli, Leonardo Montaldo, Francesca Rotini.
Ultimo aggiornamento: 14/10/2025
