Teaching Tip: Designing Three-Dimensional (3-D) Printed Struvite and Calcium Oxalate Crystals for Microscopic...

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Education
• Diagnostic Pathology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Accredited veterinary programs require hands-on urinalysis training.
• Clinical caseloads for practicing urine sediment examination are unpredictable.
• Existing resources like textbooks lack interactive microscopic evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop 3-D printed models of common urine crystals for veterinary skills training.
• To provide a consistent and accessible method for learning crystalluria identification.
• To supplement traditional learning methods in veterinary pre-clinical curricula.

Main Methods:

• Computer-aided design (CAD) software used to create micro-precision 3-D models.
• Models designed in Standard for the Exchange of Product Data (STEP) format.
• 3-D printing on 2 µm resolution platforms using high-temperature laminating (HTL) resin, affixed to glass slides.

Main Results:

• Macroscopic 3-D printed models of struvite and calcium oxalate crystals were successfully created.
• Models are designed for side-by-side comparison on a template to teach shape differentiation.
• Prototypes serve as a proof-of-concept for hands-on diagnostic skills training.

Conclusions:

• 3-D printed crystal models offer a novel approach to supplement urinalysis training in veterinary education.
• These models facilitate the development of essential skills for identifying and differentiating urine crystals.
• Future iterations aim to miniaturize models for more accurate microscopic representation.