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| Contribution by 3D printing technology |
Endoscopic surgery is becoming more common
as it requires a smaller incision and is less invasive
than conventional surgery.
From the surgeon's point
of view, however, these operations are much more
demanding because vision and manipulation space
are so restricted.
Since no appropriate animal or human model
is available for endoscopic nasal surgery training,
cadaveric training is the only choice. As the number of
[Photo] Precise human nasal model for endoscopic surgery training
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As an alternative to a cadaver, we have developed a precise human nasal model.
The model has a precise structure and can be operated with tactile responses close to those of live tissue.
This is the first model with an operable internal nasal structure.
[Figure] Paranasal sinuses: When healthy, they are filled with air.
With the precise human nasal model, surgeons can now practice performing operations for sinusitis and other nasal/skull related diseases.
Proper training is essential for endoscopic surgery; particularly so for endonasal surgery, where the structure is extremely complex and only a thin wall of bone separates paranasal sinuses from the optical nerves, the brain, and the arteries.
The nasal model we developed reproduces the internal nasal structure very precisely, not only visually, but haptically as well.
The 3-D structure of the skeleton was carefully extracted from CT imaging data and is precisely reproduced by a rapid prototyping technology, which is a type of 3-D printing.
[Photo] Parts of the model
Tactile responses of the model during surgery are also reproduced to be close to those of the live tissue, which has become possible by a combination of a thin plaster frame and resin membranes.
Providing an operating area for incision and resection out of replaceable parts has minimized training costs for the model.
We intend to develop this model into a more advanced training system for entoscopic nasal surgery by combining it with a measurement and evaluation system for surgeons skill in surgical operations (force applied to the patient, position of the endoscope, etc.).
[Photo] Intranasal structure
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