Vessel fabrication techniques in 3D printer.

That bio-venture company in Tokyo and Saga was developed jointly , the technology to take advantage of the (three-dimensional ) printer 3D that can replicate the three-dimensional object on the basis of the data , making the artery from such as the skin of the patient himself 5 day , I found . Establishment of vessel fabrication technology in the 3D printer is the first domestic . The good arteries were prepared , and used for transplantation , such as coronary artery bypass surgery and heart dialysis , transplantation experiments on animals is progressing at Saga University School of Medicine . Through clinical trials and ( clinical trial ) , with the aim of practical application of 2018 .
Bio-venture company that mouth stone Mr. Nakayama Professor of Saga University Graduate School of Engineering and ( tip fusion engineering ) , had developed the mobile phones in the Panasonic was founded in '22 " Saifu~yuzu " ( Tokyo ) is developed jointly . In the application already in each country in which we acquired the rights in Japan, the U.S. , China and Singapore already basic patent .
Is sent to the dialysis machine blood , patients who become kidney function is reduced as " chronic renal failure " We need dialysis treatment with the exception of such waste and toxins in the blood outside the body , but is supplied to the dialysis machine and a large amount of blood because , be implanted an artificial blood vessel made ​​of resin in many cases. However , artificial blood vessel made ​​of resin , was the problem that there is a possibility to expand the infection of bacteria in the body . It is autoimmune easy work , artificial blood vessels made ​​from cells of a patient himself with excellent anti- infective .
In materials such as skin cells of a patient per se , the research team began research to produce a blood vessel in the 3D printer . Order to reproduce without destroying the shape three-dimensional organization of the blood vessel , and devise a device arranged in countless as pinholder of ikebana ( about 0.1 millimeters in diameter , about 10 mm in length) needle made ​​of metal . I built in the 3D printer .
In about 10 days in this 3D printer , and success in the production of artery of 2-3 mm in diameter of the tubular to wrap the needle countless . It that was able to or thicker blood vessels by adjusting the shape and size of the needle , or longer .
According to the Saifu~yuzu , plans to practical use for dialysis patients in the country which is said to be more than 300,000 people first , and that extended to implant applications of coronary artery bypass surgery at the time of the heart in the future . U.S. companies have already developed similar technology , but clinical trials have not yet begun .
Saifu~yuzu are described in " potential for catch-up in clinical trials , can be preceded by Japan in the practical use high " he said. It is the great blood vessels and come along in a three-dimensional printer . By all means, please go to establish the technology for practical use .




データをもとに立体造形物を複製できる３Ｄ（３次元）プリンターを活用し、患者本人の皮膚などから動脈を作製する技術を、佐賀大学と東京のバイオベンチャー企業が共同で開発したことが５日、分かった。３Ｄプリンターでの血管作製技術の確立は国内初。作製した動脈は、人工透析や心臓の冠動脈バイパス手術の移植などに使用するといい、佐賀大医学部で動物への移植実験が進んでいる。臨床試験（治験）などを経て、平成３０年の実用化を目指す。
　佐賀大大学院工学系研究科の中山教授（先端融合工学）と、パナソニックで携帯電話などを開発していた口石氏が２２年に設立したバイオベンチャー企業「サイフューズ」（東京）が共同で開発。基本特許は各国に出願済みで、すでに日本、米国、中国、シンガポールで権利を取得した。
　腎臓機能が低下する「慢性腎不全」となった患者は血液を透析機に送り、体外で血中の老廃物や毒素などを除く人工透析治療が必要だが、大量の血液を透析機に供給するため、樹脂製の人工血管を移植することが多い。ただ、樹脂製の人工血管は、体内で菌の感染を拡大させる恐れがあるのが課題だった。患者本人の細胞からできた人工血管は自己免疫が働きやすく、抗感染性に優れるとされる。
　研究チームは、患者本人の皮膚細胞などを材料に、３Ｄプリンターで血管を作製する研究に着手。血管の立体組織を形状を崩さずに再現するため、金属製の針（太さ約０・１ミリ、長さ約１０ミリ）を生け花の剣山のように無数に並べた装置を考案。３Ｄプリンターに内蔵した。
　この３Ｄプリンターで１０日程度で、無数の針を包むように筒状の直径２～３ミリの動脈の作製に成功。針の形状や大きさを調整することで血管を太くしたり、長くしたりすることができたという。
　サイフューズによると、まず３０万人以上といわれる国内の人工透析患者のために実用化する予定で、将来的には心臓の冠動脈バイパス手術時の移植用途にも拡大するという。同様の技術は米国企業がすでに開発しているが、臨床試験はまだ始まっていない。
　サイフューズは「臨床試験で追いつき、実用化では日本が先行できる可能性が高い」と説明している。３次元プリンターで血管が出来上がるとは凄いことですね。ぜひ、実用化に向けて技術を確立していってください。