Seeing Care Through a New Lens at Ochsner Health: Their 3D Planning Experience

Across the globe, innovative hospitals are showing how this approach changes the way medicine is practiced and experienced. Ochsner Health’s BioDesign Lab in New Orleans offers a glimpse into three powerful ways 3D planning is already making a difference.

Even the most skilled surgeons can face difficulty anticipating every nuance in complex cases like intracranial aneurysms or AVMs. With such a comprehensive view of the 3D model, the surgical team at Ochsner Health can explore and interact with the patient anatomy in detail — measuring, marking, and manipulating structures to see how critical anatomy relates before operating.

This 3D clarity helps them foresee potential challenges, align strategies across specialties, and make the right call under pressure in the OR — bringing greater predictability to procedures and, in turn, to outcomes.

Complex medical imaging can be difficult for patients to interpret, often leaving them uncertain about what lies ahead. At Ochsner, surgeons use patient-specific 3D anatomical models created from medical scans to guide conversations in a more tangible way.

In one neurovascular case, the patient was able to hold a 3D‑printed replica of their cranial anatomy, making the diagnosis easier to understand, building trust, and securing truly informed consent. By turning abstract images into something patients can see and touch, the experience shifts from confusion to clarity and confidence in treatment decisions.

Multi-disciplinary care depends on a shared understanding of a patient’s anatomy. 3D models make that shared vision possible for Ochsner Health — connecting their team, data, and decisions for a smoother transition into the OR.

This use of advanced 3D planning tools doesn’t just empower current teams; it attracts the next generation. For specialists in pediatric cardiology, neurosurgery, orthopaedics, and beyond, Ochsner Health’s 3D planning routine signals a clear commitment to innovation, helping them draw in and retain high‑caliber professionals eager to advance patient care.

Ochsner’s success shows what’s possible when hospitals embrace 3D planning — not just at scale, but at the very start of their journey. By minimizing surgical surprises, helping patients see their diagnosis, and fostering strong team alignment, this technology opens new doors to personalized medicine. Materialise Mimics software works quietly behind the scenes to make these benefits real, turning complex data into clear, actionable insights.