Seeing is Believing

Seeing is Believing: How Radio-realistic 3D Printing is Transforming Surgical Planning.

Stratasys has recently developed a brand new, one-of-a-kind product that will truly enhance healthcare, more specifically, clinician training and medical device design. RadioMatrix is a breakthrough in technology that can replicate any human structure so that when an X-ray or CT image is taken, the structure appears to be integrated into 
the human body rather than a foreign body that disrupts the image. Currently on the market, 3D print resin appears either too dense or transparent, whereas RadioMatrix creates a radio-realistic phantom. This product was recently commercially available in the United States. RadioMatrix can be tailored to specific densities of -30 to 1000 Hounsfield Units and is able to be 3D printed using the Stratasys J850 and J5 Digital Anatomy Printers [1]. This product could allow surgeons to simulate complex 
procedures before entering the operating room, which would significantly reduce operation time and, as a result, healthcare costs. Additionally, it would allow them to simulate difficult cases, such as tumour resections that may substantially improve patient outcomes. Furthermore, this product could notably assist in software development programs, as 3D printed models can simulate both the anatomy (shape) and attenuation (appearance on an X-ray image) of a real tissue.

This would enhance CT/X-algorithm calibration, allowing developers to conduct realistic 
testing with 3D-printed phantoms and thereby reducing reliance on human volunteers or patient scans. In addition to these benefits, RadioMatrix could improve preoperative imaging precision, allowing surgeons to visualize complex anatomical structures like cranial vasculature or intricate pathways in the inner ear without 
interference from foreign materials. With the advancement of these materials, it may also eliminate the need for animal models that are currently used by clinicians during training [2].  In the future, RadioMatrix could expand the possibilities for personalized surgical planning, advanced medical  training, and safer patient care, while reducing costs and reliance on traditional cadaveric or animal models. Its ability 
to seamlessly integrate with imaging means clinicians can practice, plan, and innovate in previously impossible ways, ultimately improving outcomes for patients across a wide range of procedures.

Written by Jennifer Joanna-Joan Villeneuve.

References
[1] “Introducing The RadioMatrixTM Material.” Accessed: Jan. 10, 2026. [Online]. Available: 
https://www.stratasys.com/en/materials/materials-catalog/polyjet-materials/radiomatrix/
[2] “Stratasys Announces Radiopaque Material For Digital Anatomy 3D Printer.” Accessed: Jan. 10, 2026. 
[Online]. Available: https://www.stratasys.com/en/resources/blog/radiopaque-material-for-digital-anatomy-3dprinter/

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