The Operating Theatre Journal - Journal - Page 13
The Operating Theatres North
Show 2024
8th February 2024 - Etihad Stadium, Manchester
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about the latest technology, efficiency improvements, and how to work
towards a greener future.
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University Hospital Birmingham uses 3D Printed
tailored surgical guides
Stratasys, a specialist in polymer 3D printing solutions, has shared
that the University Hospital Birmingham in England is delivering
“improved outcomes” for head and neck cancer patients, with the
hospital reporting reduced surgery times of up to three hours through
the use of tailored, 3D printed cutting guides.
This is attributed to the integration of a Stratasys J5 MediJet 3D
printer that enables the hospital to create patient-speci昀椀c cutting
guides ahead of operations, transforming the way tumours are
removed from head and neck cancer patients.
Using 3D printing, the surgical team can now produce highly accurate
devices using patient scans, with a resolution of within 150 microns,
helping to support surgical outcomes. These are produced in
Biocompatible Clear MED610; a rigid, transparent resin suitable for
applications requiring long-term contact (more than 30 days) with
intact skin and limited contact (up to 24 hours) with tissue, bone or
mucosal membranes.
“In addition to saving up to three hours of surgery time, 3D printing
also enables much better surgical planning,” says Stefan Edmondson,
consultant clinical scientist (reconstructive science) at the hospital.
“Using patient scans, the team is able to create 3D visualisations
based on the distinct anatomy of each patient – and then leverage
3D printing technology to produce both anatomical models and
personalised surgical cutting guides ahead of the actual operation.
“This capability means we can not only accurately predict the surgery
before it’s done, but that we have the tools to ensure that the
meticulous pre-surgical planning can be executed with the utmost
precision,” explains Edmondson. “The surgical team is also much
better prepared and the patient is far more at ease, as we can talk
through the process and expected outcomes prior to going into the
operating theatre,” he adds.
According to the hospital, taking a segment of a patient’s 昀椀bula and
moulding it into the exact shape and size to transplant into the target
area within the head or neck, while ensuring bone tissue is kept alive,
is a highly complex process
in which 3D printing really
demonstrates superior capabilities
over conventional methods.
“In this scenario, if the angles
you’re cutting at aren’t absolutely
perfect, the bone won’t 昀椀t and
there will be a higher tendency
for the body to reject it, leading
to signi昀椀cant discomfort for the
patient,” continues Edmondson.
“Thankfully, the 3D printed
cutting guides are accurate to
micron level, ensuring the 昀椀bula is
cut to the best possible 昀椀t for our
patients.”
Stratasys’ GrabCAD Print Software that works alongside this
printer, has also proven to deliver additional bene昀椀ts. Its ability to
automatically build support material contributes to the overall end-toend timesaving facilitated by the 3D printing work昀氀ow.
University Hospital Birmingham has experience with various Stratasys
3D printers and technologies. The hospital’s multi-material, full colour
printer was acquired through Stratasys’ UK based reseller, Tri-Tech
3D. “Stratasys is the gold standard of 3D printers – something that
is exempli昀椀ed in the J5 MediJet,” adds Edmondson. “Beyond its
ability to produce highly accurate cutting guides and brilliantly vivid
anatomic models that are biocompatible and sterilisable, it is really
easy to use, which makes it a winner with our team.”
Launched in 2021, the J5 MediJet gives users the ability to create
multi-material, full colour prints in a single tray. Hosted in a single
of昀椀ce-friendly platform, which reduces outsourcing costs or the need
for multiple printers, the system is built to maximise reliability and
simplify maintenance.
Source: medicalplasticnews.com
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Issue 400
January
2024
13