Photopolymer Resin Cuts Costs of Human Organ Printed Models

A new method for creating detailed three dimensional (3D) models of human organs could cut costs to one third of current techniques.

Developed by researchers at the University of Tsukuba (Japan), in partnership with Dai Nippon Printing (DNP; Tokyo, Japan), the new technique is based on 3D printing only the necessary parts of the organs that need to be operated on, and not the entire organ’s tissue, arteries, and veins. Since a significantly reduced amount of material is necessary, there is no need to use complex, highly transparent resins, or to fabricate the model in an expensive multi-material 3D printer.

Instead, the technique uses just a single photopolymer resin material to mimic the internal parts of the organ that need to be operated on, simplifying both presurgical preparation and doctor-patient communication. According to Dai Nippon Printing, it will take about a week to create a 3D model of an organ, once the necessary data are gathered, and the custom set of corrections and output conditions are exported to the 3D printer. The new technique is scheduled to be commercially available during 2016.

“The new procedure allows doctors to pinpoint the parts inside an organ they’d like to recreate, without having to reconstruct it in its entirety,” said a spokeswoman for Dai Nippon Printing. “For example, a doctor can print out a tumor inside the pancreas and blood veins surrounding it, without recreating the entire organ. This allows doctors to simulate their operations more easily and patients to better understand their medical condition.”

3D printers can be used to create a precise outline of the patient’s organ or bone structure, allowing a more precise fit of implants, practice and preparation for surgical procedures, and explaining treatment procedures to patients. 3D modeling can also be combined with custom-printed drilling guides (for example) to ensure that screws, needles, or medication are placed precisely and to ensure that the treatment is located correctly within a patient's body.

Related Links:
University of Tsukuba
Dai Nippon Printing