3D printing aids brain surgery

A near-fatal brain aneurysm was repaired with the help of a 3D printed anatomical replica

Stratasys and The Jacobs Institute in Buffalo, New York worked alongside physicians at Kaleida Health’s Gates Vascular Institute and biomedical engineers at the University at Buffalo to repair the brain aneurysm of Teresa Fint using a 3D printed replica of Flint’s brain.

Adnan Siddiqui, chief medical officer at The Jacobs Insitute and director of neurosurgical stroke services for Kaleida Health, said: “We took the image of the aneurysm based on her [Flint’s] scans to generate an exact replica of the entire brain vessel anatomy.”

The Institute came together with Ciprian Ionita, a professor of biomedical engineering and neurosurgery at the University at Buffalo to transform Flint’s CT scan into a single material model to manipulate and test.

The life-sized replica was 3D printed using Stratasys flexible TangoPlus photopolymer material on the Objet Eden260V professional 3D Printer and Stratasys said fully mimicked the feel of human tissue and its vascular structure.

After accurately reproducing the aneurysm’s geometry, doctors conducted a range of new testing and simulations to devise potential treatment options.

Siddiqui said: “Our original plan was to treat her aneurysm with a metallic basket – delivered into the area with a tiny tube.  After attempting the procedure on the 3D printed replica we realised it just wasn’t going to work.”

“Based on the Stratasys 3D printed model our team was able to pre-empt potential complications and devise a much more optimal means of treating Teresa’s aneurysm.”

Michael Springer, director of dperations and entrepreneurship at The Jacobs Institute, said: “By 3D printing models that mimic vascular feel we can create an approach I don’t think is achievable any other way.”

Scott Radar, general manager of medical solutions at Stratasys. said: “Typical treatment options are highly risky. With the aid of Stratasys’ PolyJet 3D Printing Solutions, surgeons at some of the world’s leading hospitals are now able to quickly pinpoint affected areas on individual patients and practice surgeries on realistic anatomical 3D printed models.

“This is expected to dramatically minimise risks associated with delays and complications stemming from real-time, in-procedure diagnoses.”