Bristol 3D Medical Centre

Bristol 3D Medical Centre is a dedicated centre for in-house medical 3D design and 3D printing. It is one of the first of its kind, which was made possible with help from Southmead Hospital Charity. It hosts a variety of medical device design software, state-of-the-art 3D printers, high-performance 3D surface scanners and advanced technology used to aid healthcare.

This newly opened centre has unlocked the advancement in patient treatment options via pre-planning complex procedures that reduces surgical time, improves accuracy of surgery using surgical guides and visualisation through 3D software, 3D models and virtual/augmented reality.

With the ability to provide these services for all departments within the local hospital Trusts, Bristol 3D Medical Centre offers healthcare professionals to access:

• Processing and manipulation of individual patient data (Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance (MR), surface scans etc.).
• Creation of digital and physical 3D medical anatomical models.
• Digital 3D design of custom-made devices, surgical guides and splints.
• Digital 3D planning of surgical procedures.
• Digital 3D planning of osseointegrated implants for prosthetic retention.
• Virtual planning and visualisation of patient specific anatomy.
• Creation of custom surgical moulds.
• 3D printing custom-made medical devices (such as splints and orthotic helmets).
• 3D printing custom-made medical implants (such as cranioplasty plates and craniofacial implants, titanium, PEEK and more).

Bristol Helmet Service

Bristol Helmet Service is now located in Bristol 3D Medical Centre and is one of the only NHS services for the assessment and provision of helmets for infant head shape differences (such as plagiocephaly and brachycephaly). 

Frequently Asked Questions

Patients

How can I arrange for my infant to have a head shape assessment for helmet therapy?

Please contact a healthcare professional such as your GP, Health Visitor or Paediatrician for a referral to our service for head shape assessment. We will only be able to book an appointment with a referral from a healthcare professional. This service is provided on the NHS.

Can I buy a medical model of my own anatomy?

It may be possible for you to buy a model of your own anatomy if you have the appropriate data for us to use after your treatment. You will need to cover the full cost of this, as this will not be part of your NHS treatment.

When and why is this service part of my NHS treatment?

Bristol 3D Medical Centre will be part of your treatment if your associated healthcare professional requires our services to plan your treatment or operation. In this case, you may be invited to view some of the digital 3D planning or 3D printing to help visualise your treatment or operation.

Healthcare Professionals

How can I arrange medical models, digital 3D planning or virtual visualisation of specific patients?

Please contact us through our email address with the patient’s details and information about the models, planning or visualisation you require. We will get back to you to arrange discussion in person or online regarding the services we can provide.

I am a Healthcare Professional not based in Bristol or the surrounding areas, can I still use your service?

Please contact us and we may still be able to help. Our ISO13485 accreditation is in progress, which will enable us to provide a number of services outside of hospital Trusts.

Are your materials medically tested and safe for use in and around the body?

Yes, we only use biocompatible medical printing resins for our 3D printed medical devices and implant-grade titanium and PEEK for our 3D printed implants. Please contact us for the details and we can provide the data sheet information to you on request.