Stratasys, a provider of end-to-end additive manufacturing (AM) solutions, announced a partnership with imaging and electronics company Ricoh USA and Axial3D, a provider of additive manufacturing solutions for the healthcare industry, to print anatomic models for medical use. 

Through the partnership, Stratasys’ 3D printing technology will be combined with Axial3D’s segmentation-as-a-service solution and Ricoh US’ precision additive manufacturing services, expanding access to 3D-printed medical models.

These 3D models will be used for preoperative surgical planning, diagnostic use, and surgical education for both patients and surgical staff. 

Analyst QuickTake: Stratasys invested in Axial3D in November last year to expand its presence in the healthcare industry. At the time of investment, the companies disclosed a plan to provide a joint offering to improve the accessibility of patient-specific 3D printing solutions for hospitals and medical device manufacturers.