3D printing can do a lot, like simulating a child's skull

Release date: 2015-02-03

Dr. John Meara held a transparent white plastic eye socket on each of his hands, slowly separating the two plastic eye sockets, showing the two births of Violet Pietrok. Eye spacing. Then he approached the two plastic eye sockets, which is the distance between the two eyes of the 19-month-old Pitlock.

Pittlock is almost 2 years old and was born with a rare Tessier facial disease (large crack in the skull). The distance between the two eyes is large, and the vision and sight are somewhat similar to birds. There is no cartilage under her nose, and the bones that form the face of the fetus are not properly fused.

Pillock's parents, Alicia Taylor and Matt Pietrok, came to Boston Children's Hospital from Oregon and found Dr. Mila. Because in the previous three years, Dr. Mira has performed four similar operations.

Before performing surgery on Pitlock, Mira hopes to have a more accurate understanding of its skeletal structure. To this end, he asked his colleague Peter Weinstock to print a 3D model of the Pitrolock skull based on magnetic resonance imaging.

Wayne Stoke helped Mila print four 3D models. The first 3D model was used to help Mila decide what to do with the surgery and then discuss the treatment plan with Pittlock's parents. The other three 3D models are used to simulate the actual surgical procedure. Mira can rotate the 3D model of the skull in multiple directions, which is not possible with ordinary 2D images. Then, Mila determines the optimal surgical plan by cutting and adjusting the 3D model.

Such a 3D printing model has brought great innovation to the medical market, providing doctors with new perspectives and new practical opportunities, as well as allowing patients and their families to learn more about complex surgical procedures. In addition, the hospital can print its own training tools and personalized surgical equipment. In the end, doctors also hope to print portable human organs.

Frank J. Rybicki, head of medical imaging at Ottawa Hospital, said: "There is no doubt that 3D printing will become a disruptive medical technology. It will not only shorten the operation time, but also Improve accuracy. Especially when bioprinting really comes, it will change everything."

The raw material for 3D printers is liquid plastic, not ink. After the first layer is printed, it is followed by the second and third layers until it is finally printed into a complete skull or chest. This procedure is also suitable for printing human cells. So far, researchers have printed blood vessels, simple organs and some bones. Last year, two experts at the University of Michigan also used 3D printing to save the lives of a tracheal softening baby.

Dr. Mila's colleague, Wayne Stoke, believes that 3D printed models can improve surgical techniques and results. He said that more than 10 children's hospitals around the world, including Boston Children's Hospital, have developed surgical simulation programs using 3D printed models. This not only enhances team communication and trust, but also enhances the confidence of healthcare professionals in complex surgeries. In addition, it can shorten the patient's anesthesia time.

Wayne Stoke believes that if these surgical simulations can prevent a major medical incident, they can offset the cost of a $400,000 3D printer. In fact, Wayne Stoke believes that these procedures can stop many major medical incidents.

These unusual 3D skull models from Pitlock allow Dr. Mila to realize in advance what he will see behind the real Pietrok face.

Dr. Mira has also received a 3D skull model printed by others, but it takes weeks, or even months, to print a model, and each model is worth thousands of dollars. Wayne Stoke's 3D printers are different, and four identical 3D skull models can be printed in a few days, each costing just $1,200 and with an accuracy in the range of a hair strand.

In a surgical trial of one of the models, Mila noticed that in a perfect position, the two orbital bones would rub and affect Pittlock's vision. So, Mira re-run the surgery to avoid friction.

Mila said: "In this regard, the role of the 3D printing model is enormous. Otherwise, you will be doing this for the first time in the operating room."

At the beginning of October last year, on the day of surgery in Pitlock, Mila repeatedly studied one of the 3D models in the operating room. In the end, the surgery was successfully completed as planned.

Brigham and Women's Hospital also has a more advanced 3D printer that prints both the body and the bones and prints the medical tools used in the surgery.

Rebitzki said: "When you have surgery, you don't have to repeatedly toss, because everything is there. You have an unprecedented surgical plan with unprecedented accuracy." Rebitsky also said that comparing the 3D model before and after surgery, you You can also find out why some transplant organizations are experiencing exclusion.

Rebitzki believes that with the improvement of 3D printers, the surgical results will be more perfect. For example, in the near future, doctors can pass medical catheters through printed blood vessels, bypass aneurysms with 3D models, and even feel tactile differences between tumors and healthy tissue.

Wayne Stoke used a 3D printer to print a lot of surgical tools, monitors, and even red liquid in the surgery, placed on the third floor of Boston Children's Hospital, almost exactly the same as the real tools next to it. He said that neurosurgeons, cardiologists and other departmental doctors in the hospital often use these simulation tools to practice their hands.

For 3D printing and surgical simulation, there are currently few research reports to prove its benefits. But the US Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) researchers have demonstrated that team awareness in the operating room can greatly reduce the chance of death or injury.

Wayne Stoker said: "Solving a problem, avoiding a mistake, identifying a potential security threat can save a life." In addition, it can also reduce costs. Wayne Stoke also said that the simulation and exercise of the surgical procedure can make doctors and nurses more confident in the operation, especially for complex operations like Pitlock.

Pitlock’s parents also said that they felt that Dr. Mila was fully prepared before the operation. Pittlock’s mother, Taylor, said: “The doctor smiled when he walked out of the operating room. He said the surgery was perfect.”

Although the operation was very successful, Pittlock's complete recovery still faces some challenges. The skin on his skull is not enough to withstand the suture, and the crack in the skull may crack. The second surgery is to restore normal eyelid function, but it is only partial. In the future, Pitlock will undergo multiple operations to further narrow the distance between the eyes and increase the nasal cartilage. In short, it will take a long time for Pitlock to return to normal.

But Pittlock himself did not realize this. She plays a peekaboo game with a stranger and pushes a pink toy that can walk with her hand. Due to the scattered line of sight, she has lost the stability of walking before. Now, she can stand up steadily. When the mother teased her behind, she would also giggled back and forth.

Mother Taylor said: "Everything that happened to her is amazing."

Source: Singularity Network

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