Fig. 1

General workflow for the conversion and compositing of medical data through hybrid modeling techniques to generate 3D-printed tangible objects. A A single CT DICOM image stack is processed, and image-derived intensity values are calculated. B User-defined threshold is created at specific intensity values to segment specific anatomy. Segmentations are imported into a voxel-based modeling software where composting functions define the intra and extra-muscular sections of vessels. The resulting vessels are subtracted from the muscle creating voids for future 3D printing operations. C A voxel color channel modeling layer is applied above the muscle and composited down upon the muscle. User defined grids are modeled in the vertical and horizontal plane at even increments to define a regular grid. D The result of the color channel grid defined a differentiation in color only, leaving the morphology intact, which is later converted to an isosurface for exporting to a mesh. Finally, the grid, remaining muscle, intra- and extra-muscular vessels, and umbilicus are exported separately as mesh files for 3D Printing (E). F A singular model representation delineating the component anatomical features of the model. Detailed perspective highlights demonstrating the visualization of vessels variations (G) (H)