Researchers at MIT needed accurate, patient-specific vascular phantoms for their groundbreaking work with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). Traditional fabrication methods couldn’t meet the demands for realistic geometry, material flexibility, and acoustic compatibility. Here’s how Inkbit delivered a superior solution.

The Challenge: Realistic Phantoms for Advanced Medical Imagining

MIT researchers faced significant hurdles in creating vascular phantoms that closely mimicked human tissue for IVUS research. Standard 3D printing methods proved inadequate—often producing models that were too rigid, inaccurately scaled, or incompatible with ultrasound imaging. A faster, more accurate, and adaptable approach was essential.

Inkbit’s Solution: Precision and Performance with VCJ Technology and TEPU™ 30A

By leveraging Inkbit’s Vision-Controlled Jetting (VCJ) technology along with the proprietary TEPU™ 30A soft elastic material, MIT was able to produce anatomically precise, patient-specific vascular models. Inkbit’s platform enabled rapid fabrication of realistic phantoms that accurately replicated both the geometry and mechanical behavior of human vascular tissue—crucial for effective IVUS studies.

Insights from MIT:

“Inkbit’s material properties were a perfect match in every way—including mechanical performance, acoustic compatibility, and geometric accuracy. It has been instrumental in advancing our IVUS experiments.”

— Tom Dillon, PhD Student, Mechanical Engineering, MIT

Looking Ahead

This collaboration demonstrates how advanced additive manufacturing can substantially enhance medical research. With Inkbit’s innovative 3D printing technologies, research teams can rapidly prototype complex medical models—paving the way for accelerated innovation and future clinical applications.

Get Started with Inkbit

Ready to see what Inkbit can do for you? Getting started is simple:

1. Send us your design. Simply submit a multibodied STEP file with solid bodies assigned to different materials to  [email protected].
2. Not sure what to choose? Request a reference part. Email us at [email protected] to request a reference part.
3. Download our Design Guide for best practices and design strategies.

For any questions, reach out to [email protected]. We’re always happy to help!