The startup Meteora3D, which emerged from the University of Cincinnati, is working on a process to produce patient-specific anatomical models using 3D printing in a significantly shorter time. The target group is particularly surgeons who rely on three-dimensional, physical models for preoperative planning. Unlike previously available methods, which take several days to produce, Meteora3D makes it possible to produce such models in just a few hours.
The development was initiated under the leadership of Dr. Prashanth Ravi, radiologist and faculty member at the College of Medicine at the University of Cincinnati. Together with CTO Shane Cline, a process was developed that converts digital image data from CT or MRI into physically tangible models. This procedure is intended to enable more precise surgical preparation, particularly in emergency and trauma care. The first prototypes were created in the university’s 1819 Innovation Hub using industrial 3D printers and CNC technology.
“For surgeons, understanding anatomy through two-dimensional images can be challenging,” Ravi says. “3D printing presents information in a way that aligns with how they think and work. That’s what drives us – to help them perform their jobs more efficiently.”
Technologically, Meteora3D relies on high-speed printing systems that offer both accuracy and material diversity. The project was supported by funding from the National Science Foundation and the Entrepreneurial Services Provider Program of the State of Ohio. To date, the company has raised a total of over 500,000 US dollars in capital. In addition, a patent is currently being examined to protect the underlying technology.
“Access to the Venture Lab’s incredible mentorship and early funding, and the makerspace’s state-of-the-art infrastructure, were instrumental in Meteora3D successfully executing early prototyping and customer discovery,” Ravi notes. “At the end of the day, that’s what drives us – knowing that our work will directly improve patient outcomes.”
The company is currently testing its solution clinically in cooperation with the university’s medical faculty. The 3D models are already being used in interventional procedures, for example to select suitable stents or to plan complex vascular interventions.
“Be patient, stay curious and enjoy the process,” Ravi advises. “Innovation takes time, but the impact it can have on lives makes every challenge worth it.”
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