Technology innovations always more or less change the way surgeons treat their patients. Originally used for aerospace and automotive sectors, Japanese 3D printing technology is going to be used for medical applications as well, for the purpose of assisting surgeons to do their surgical jobs by providing them the replica of the patient's troubled organ in a highly detailed and accurate manner.
Just like a real organ, a replica is wet and soft and it even oozes fake blood. It is made based on the patient's medical CT scan or MRI, which is then used to create a 3D printed mold. To make the wet organ, the mold is filled with a gelatinous resin to create the replica that looks and feels like the real organ to the utmost that even the texture and weight are made to resemble its twin. However, many of the organ models will also provide color coding on various areas of a particular organ.
The replica will really show its usefulness when it can actually help make things easier and more efficient for surgeons. Surgeons will find that 3D-printing technology can mean shorter operating time, less complication and error risks, and eventually much better outcomes for patients through the use of 3D-printed surgical replicas.
The model will educate new surgeons too. Despite the knowledge they get from medical university, they are too inexperienced to conduct a surgery and for that reason this replica will be very helpful to them. Tomohiro Kinoshita, founder of the replica producing company Fasotec, said, "With the wet model, doctors can experience the softness of organs and see them bleed. We aim to help doctors improve their skills with the models."
Before conducting surgery, the model will enable surgeons to better understand the organ they will handle and decide what surgical method is the best for the operation.
These replicas are available in the worldwide market for $127 as soon as April this year.
