In this tutorial we're going to learn how to take a DICOM-based medical imaging scan, such as a CT scan, and convert into an STL file in preparation for 3D printing.
We will use the free, open-source software program Osirix to do this. Once the file is converted into STL format, we will use the free software packages Blender and Meshmixer to prepare the file for 3D bioprinting. If mastered, this material should easily allow you to make a high-quality 3D printed medical model in less than 30 minutes using free software. Expensive, proprietary software is not needed. This tutorial is designed primarily for Macintosh users since Osirix is a Macintosh-only program. If you use Windows or Linux, please stay tuned for my upcoming tutorial on using free, open-source 3D Slicer to create medical and anatomic models. If you haven't already done so, please see my tutorial on selecting the best medical scan to create a 3D printed model. If you start your 3D printed model project with the wrong kind of scan, your model will not turn out well. Selecting the right kind of scan is critically important and will save you a lot of frustration. Take a few minutes to look over this brief tutorial.
It will be well worth your time.īefore you start, DOWNLOAD THE FILE PACK that accompanies this video so you can follow along on your own computer. When you finish the tutorial, you will have your very own 3D printable skull STL file.
Download is free for members, and registration for membership is also free and only takes a minute. Video 1 : The video version of this tutorial. It takes you from start to finish in 30 minutes. The written version here has more detail though. Osirix is a Macintosh-only software package for reading medical imaging scans (Figure 1).
There is an FDA-approved version designed for doctors reading scans in clinics and hospitals, a 64-bit version for research and other nonclinical activities, and a free, 32-bit version. The main difference between the free 32-bit version and the paid 64-bit version is the 64-bit version can open very large imaging studies, such as MRI exams with thousands of images. The 32-bit version is limited to about 500 images. Additionally, there is a performance boost with the paid versions. If you are just getting into 3D bioprinting, the free, 32-bit version is a great place to start. It can be downloaded at the Osirix website here. įigure 1 : An example of Osirix being used to read a CT scan.ĭICOM stands for Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine. It is the standard file format for most medical imaging scans, such as Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Residence Imaging (MRI), ultrasound, and x-ray imaging studies. STL, or STereoLithography format, is an engineering file format created by 3D Systems for use with Computer Aided Design software (CAD). The Problem with 3D Printing Anatomic Structures The file format is primarily used in engineering, and has become the standard file format for 3D printing. The major problem with trying to 3D print anatomic structures from medical scans is that the medical scan data is in DICOM format and 3D printers require files in STL format. There are very expensive, proprietary software packages that can perform the conversion between DICOM and STL. Osirix is the best solution for Macintosh.Ī little-known secret is that this can also be done using free, open-source software. #Osirix free windows windowsģD Slicer is the best solution for Windows and Linux. I will discuss 3D Slicer in an upcoming tutorial. If you haven't already, please download the DICOM data set we will be using in this tutorial. This data set is from a high quality CT scan of the brain and skull. It has been anonymized and has been put in the public domain for research by the US National Cancer Institute. Also included with the download packet are other files we will use for this tutorial, including the final STL file of the skull. The download is free for members, and registration for membership is also free and only takes a minute.įrom the Macintosh Finder navigate to the folder with the downloaded tutorial file pack and double-click on the file TCGA-06-5410 sharp.zip. (Figure 2)įigure 2 : Importing the CT scan into Osirix From the File menu, click Import, Import Files.