Oct 27, 2022 
Ido Bitan is a Product Manager in Stratasys’s Medical Solutions Department. Mr. Bitan received a Bachelor of Science in biomedical engineering from Beer Sheva University in Israel. Mr. Bitan began his career at a start-up company, where he worked as part of the Research & Development team to develop new cancer-detecting equipment that assists surgeons in the operating room. Mr. Bitan has helped establish Stratasys’s adaption to the medical industry, leading the development of the Digital Anatomy Printer, Digital Anatomy Creator, and many more of the accompanying materials and software features. The Medical Department at Stratasys continues to push the boundaries of technology to improve patient care worldwide, and Mr. Bitan is passionate about improving the healthcare system to ensure better outcomes for any patient. Mr. Bitan will be speaking at the upcoming 3DHEALS Point of Care 3D printing virtual event.
When was the first encounter you had with 3D printing?
Ido: As a part of my final project in bio-Medical engineering I made Proof of Concept testing for a small start-up company, and I needed a Maxillary Sinus model. That Is when I approached A friend at Stratasys to print a model for me out of a DICOM.
It was a single material model, with lots of noise shells in it – and still, I was so impressed by the capabilities that I fell in love with 3D printing at that minute.
What inspired you to start your career?
Ido: I always wanted to be a part of an organization that improves patient care and medical outcomes. The fact that Stratasys had initiated a department dedicated to medical applications made me want to take a significant part in improving the 3D printing solution for the medical industry.
Who inspired you the most along this journey in 3D printing?
Ido: I think that my inspiration comes Mainly from the actual patients that share their stories with us. I wouldn’t want to name anyone in particular.
What motivates you the most for your work?
Ido: Seeing how the products I work on are actually being used in the hospitals/Medical device companies to improve their processes and outcome.
What is/are the biggest obstacle(s) in your line of work? If you have conquered them, what were your solutions?
Ido: I think that the biggest obstacle is changing the paradigm in the medical arena. Sometimes organizations are used to a specific process and even when a solution/technology would improve their organization – they would still prefer to keep things as is.
What do you think is (are) the biggest challenge(s) in 3D Printing/bio-printing? What do you think the potential solution(s) is (are)?
Ido: I think the main challenge is the adoption of the tech due to the complicated process and high cost of operating it. The solution is divided into two in my opinion:
- Reimbursement of medical models for POC – allows greater adoption
- Simplifying the solution- making it more accessible
If you are granted three wishes by a higher being, what would they be?
Ido: I would remain with wishes on the topic, so:
- Accepting 3D printing surgical planning as the Gold Standard prior to any operation
- Getting unlimited resources to keep improving our solution offering to point of care (POC)
- Being able to print real implantable, functional organs
What advice would you give to a smart driven college student in the “real world”? What bad advice you heard should they ignore?
Ido: My advice would be –
Do not let the system/institution hold you with your dreams…
I had a course on Medical Entrepreneurship – and we came to a revolutionary idea and presented it to the class as a part of the course. The professor gave us a B for choosing an imaginary subject that will never be applicable.
3 years later – a company revealed its solution that was like the idea that I presented.
Related Links:
Medical 3D Printing – An Indian Perspective on Point of Care Micro Labs
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