USAGE OF FLEXFILL PEBA FOR 3D PRINTING MODEL ORGANS
Cuba is widely known for its high professional skills surgeons but few material resources. The TECNOFAB-DEFAM research group, from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Polytechnical University of Catalonia (UPC), carried out a collaborative project with a Hospital in Havana. Fillamentum participated in such a way that its materials have been used for the entire development of the project.
The research group provided the radiology department with material and their knowledge of how to use the 3D printing technology. The main aim of the collaboration was to print organ models to facilitate the planning of surgical interventions. Thanks to the fact that 3D printing allows the user to customize manufacturing very easily, and from radiology images (DICOM), the user can foresee what situation the surgeon will find before any operation. For this reason, several case studies which had pathologies were printed.
Some examples of printed samples that were useful for the surgeons were pieces of interest in vascular surgery, spinal surgery, nephrology and pneumology (see figure below).
As surgeons explained: “With a good planning phase, the success of operations is significantly increased.” And that’s precisely what we want to promote.
In addition, the hospitals of Cuba also focus on the training of new doctors who are studying the degree of medicine at the University. Therefore, it is also intended to use the models for the professional growth of doctors in training.
EVOLUTION OF A TUMOR
Once the process of printing organs is already defined, PEBA is used for working, as the results are much more similar to a real organ thanks to PEBA’s flexibility and final rugosity. The three different stages of the tumor were studied and printed using the real scale. The shape and dimensions were clearly pointed out, as it can be seen in the following figure.
As it is known, 3D printing is no longer the future; it is actually the present and fits in many different areas and for many different purposes. It is a challenge and a pleasure to be able to help countries like Cuba, contributing with our technical knowledge and always with the support of Fillamentum, who cares and helps us to carry out social projects.