Innovative medical institutes are developing the use of 3d printers to create the next wave of medical technology. These projects could have profound implications and benefits for people suffering from cardiovascular diseases such as strokes and heart attacks.
Experts are developing ways to build 3D brain arteries with the target of understanding how the brain works, leading to evolutions in treating aneurysms and strokes. A further understanding of how 3D printers work is starting to enhance which parallels the realism and complexity of different medical aspects.
Developments
Over the last two years alone scientists have developed 3D arteries which has led to better medical training, device testing and planning for surgeries. The benefits of these 3D models has improved the building of devices that can work inside arteries in the heart, brain and peripheral vasculature.
All this has led to exciting experiments and risk taking by developers to use their products on the 3D models with no risk to actual human life. Life like dangerous situations can now be freely tested which is great news for us all in the future.
Imagine doctors of the future being able to scan your organs then print them out artificially to test which life saving devices are suitable for you.
Patients
Specialist medical equipment is being developed so that your particular files can be loaded into printers so that if needed, you can have individualized operations tailed just for your body alone. Individual brain scans can identify arteries, this process is called ‘segmentation’. This enables doctors and surgeons to make much better judgements in life saving situations.
Different technology concerning computer programmes are used to hollow out vessels and rebuild or add supporting connectors which attach to machines that replicates the blood flow in your body. When this process is finished the biomedical engineers can safely clean out blocked vessels This will greatly improve medical training for this type of procedure.
Surgery
As mentioned earlier, surgical planning is taking huge steps forward due to the developments in 3D printing. Printing models of cardiovascular structures enables teams of surgeons to discuss issues and train others. Photographs are taken and records are stored for the future to aid the process and development of future planning. The models also enable surgeons to plan different ways of operating during practice surgery.
Using different pathways can optimise the procedure and tell the surgeon which vessel is problematic or helpful. Twisted vessels can be discovered prior operation which help navigate during surgery.
Once the affected blood vessel has been discovered surgeons can select different devices to treat things such as clots in the case of a stroke. Due to this process of 3D printing before operation there will be much more confidence leading to higher success rates. All of this also has impact of cost in the hospitals are less mistakes are made and surgery will faster and therefore more economical.
Future
There is masses of room for future development in this field. 3D printing is still just a novel approach in the medical world and has yet to fully establish itself. An exciting period of medical innovation lies ahead which can only benefit all mankind. 3D printing is evolving everyday leading to much more progress further down the line. Healthcare is going to be much more customised for individual needs and far more complex cases will hopefully have better, healthier and positive outcomes.
Source: https://uk.rs-online.com/web/generalDisplay.html?id=future-of-3d-printing
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morganpfranklin
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CureZone