Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41026321›Full record

Article3D printing in medicine2025

3D printing of an optic pathway model from 7T MRI for education.

Jack A Black, Daniel J Blezek, Christian R Hanson, Nic A Crudele, Andrew M Duit, David F Black, Jonathan M Morris

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in 3D printing in medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Jack A BlackDepartment of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
Daniel J BlezekDepartment of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
Christian R HansonDepartment of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
Nic A CrudeleDepartment of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
Andrew M DuitDepartment of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
David F BlackDepartment of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA. Black.David@mayo.edu.
Jonathan M MorrisDepartment of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe optic pathway is a complex neural structure responsible for transmitting visual information from the retina to the brain. Traditionally, the optic pathway has been depicted using two-dimensional (2D) illustrations, which, while useful for simplification, can obscure depth, orientation, and connectivity, limiting a full understanding of its three-dimensional (3D) nature which is important for surgical planning and neuroanatomy education. Due to a convergence of advancing technologies in MRI image acquisition, medical CAD and 3D illustration software, as well as 3D printing technologies, these 3D visualizations can now be physically manufactured to provide life size, patient specific, physical, color-coded 3D models. 3D models manufactured from advanced imaging can provide a more accurate, interactive, non-invasive, cost-effective alternative to medical illustration and animation than traditional dissected cadaveric anatomical specimens for both clinical and educational purposes.

methodsThe source data for this project came from both a 42 year old male patient and a 21 year old male volunteer after both had been scanned on the same seven tesla MRI including DTI for the patient and volumetric sequences for the volunteer. The model was created by segmenting the optic pathway using medical CAD software and 3D illustration software. The DTI tracts were coregistered to the anatomic brain. The model was optimized for printing and hypothetical "lesions" were added along the pathway with their corresponding visual deficits. The model was printed on an HP580 multijet fusion color printer and photorealistic eyes were printed using material jetting of photopolymer via a Stratasys J750 printer.

resultsMultiple challenges were overcome to successfully create a life size, physical, multicolor 3D printed representation of the optic pathway created from 7T MRI data.

conclusionThis workflow resulted in a unique educational 3D representation of the human optic pathway that allows for direct manipulation, haptic feedback, and clear understanding of the anatomic relations both of this system normally and the correlations between lesion location and resultant expected visual field impairment. As opposed to the inconvenience, costs, and limited access accompanying the classical standard of advanced dissections of human specimens, this model is available to all learners in all environments.

Indexed as

3D printingDTI (Diffusion tensor imaging)EducationMRI (Magnetic resonance imaging)Optic pathwayTractography

Identifiers

PMID41026321
PMCPMC12481937

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.