3D printing in healthcare facilities (HCFs) has largely been accomplished through the bespoke implementation of picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) or vendor-neutral archives (VNA), medical segmentation software, pre-print software, and 3D printers. The result of this workflow is a series of 3D datasets (often STLs or OBJs) managed through ad hoc databases linking 3D files to patient records. This bespoke process, while clearly functional, does not leverage existing infrastructure hospitals use to store medical images safely and consistently while ensuring clear linking of images to patient records. In 2018, Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) updated their specification to allow the encapsulation of STLs and OBJs (the latter in 2020). In September 2022, Media2DICOM was released to the greater medical community (at no cost), allowing hospitals to encapsulate 3D datasets and archive them in hospital-based imaging databases. We present the basics of using Media2DICOM to achieve ideal archival capabilities and lessons learned from the challenges associated with encapsulation. The lessons discussed are agnostic to a specific platform/software and can help hospitals better communicate needs with their imaging vendors.
Learning Objectives:
- Upon completion, participant will be able to describe DICOM encapsulation of 3D printable files (e.g., STL and OBJ).
- Upon completion, participant will be able to describe DICOM encapsulation to imaging vendors to improve support of 3D with regards to PACS/VNA.
- Upon completion, participant will be able to utilize no-cost software to encapsulate 3D datasets intended for 3Dpritning an extended reality hospital applications.
