Project Description

3Disease

Visualising your disease

Patients often have a hard time to understand why they need to stay awake during major brain surgery, based on the 2D images they are shown. The 2d versions of the scans are difficult to ‘read’.

The challenge

How can we use 3D printing to improve the communication with patients that have a brain tumour so that they can better understand the treatment?

The solution

With 3Disease we used the information from the scans, that was previously shown in 2d, to create 3d models of the tumours and surrounding brain tissue. This resulted in a pilot with a group of patients with brain tumours. Each patient was asked if they would like to see the 3D printed version of their tumour. The results (study will be published below) were very interesting. Some patients would even like to take the model home to use it in explaining the coming surgery to their family and friends.

What did we do?

Together with the department of neurosurgery and the 3D lab of the Radboud University Medical Centre we not only focussed on creating the models themselves but also thought about ways to use them to improve the communication.

Check out the video below from 3D printer manufacturer Ultimaker.

In the Netherlands 5,3 million people have a chronic disease. Most people with a chronic disease have to visit a hospital or doctor 4 times a year.

Prof. Dr. Nicole BlijlevensInternist Haematologist
“CMyLife improves the quality of care for patients with CML. By allowing people to take control of their own care-process they can better shape their live with the disease in a way that fits their personal situation.”
Barend Heeren
Barend HeerenProgrammanager HereIsMyData at Radboudumc
“With CMyLife we’re able to empower patients by giving them the tools they need to understand and check if they receive the right care and to manage their own side-effects.”