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Application of 3D Printing Support Material for Neurosurgical Simulation
Summary
3D printer support material offers a low-cost, sustainable option for developing dissectible brain simulators. This material effectively mimics surgical tissues, enhancing neurosurgical education and training for complex procedures.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Biomedical Engineering
- Surgical Simulation
Background:
- Brain dissection is a critical neurosurgical skill for procedures like tumor excision and epilepsy surgery.
- Developing effective and sustainable training tools is essential for advancing neurosurgical education.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify a suitable material for a dissectible brain simulator.
- To evaluate 3D printer support material as a sustainable alternative for surgical education.
Main Methods:
- A feasibility study using qualitative function deployment (QFD) and material selection.
- Development of prototypes using silicone, TissueMatrix™, and support material.
- Analysis of expert feedback, cost, safety, functional fidelity, and post-processing time.
Main Results:
- Support material demonstrated superior performance in mimicking surgical tissues (pia mater, gray/white matter, blood vessels).
- Prototypes made with support material were 39% less costly than TissueMatrix™.
- Support material exhibited a unique break-away feature beneficial for dissection techniques, though it degraded after 30-45 minutes.
Conclusions:
- 3D printer support material is a viable, low-cost option for creating dissectible brain simulators.
- This approach offers a promising advancement in neurosurgical education and training.
- Further research may explore material enhancements for durability.
