3D printer, active in the medical field.

Back using a PC , 3D printer that can make three-dimensional object to print have begun to play an active part in the medical field . From last fall , Dr. Eng physicians and teamed up , producing a three-dimensional model of the organ which reproduced precisely to focus blood vessels and internal Nagoya University . I use the simulation of surgery .
"Tumor ( tumor ) because it is here , I hope if we cut this , here "
Early March , operating room of Nagoya University hospital . Doctors of three people , was against the forehead for a hand the three-dimensional model of the liver was the size of the 70% of the real thing . On this day , surgery of liver cancer in men 70s . In order to remove the small cancer several millimeters in diameter that dot , and how to proceed with surgery and the location of the tumor with or against I pick up a model many times during surgery , Dari peering upside down , and liver of actual I was sure .
The liver 's mass brown opaque , but the blood vessels are tangled in a complex in the inside . For this reason , to ablate exactly a small tumor is not that easy . From last fall , and small tumors that are difficult to identify , at the time of surgery of liver cancer in difficult procedure , and started using the three-dimensional model only inspection of conventional surgery in tumors of Nagoya University hospital .
Igami lecturer of Surgical Oncology said, " it is possible to know exactly the position Using the model , it is advanced more safely . Surgery can also communicate with each other doctor " he said. Previously, it had been assembled image in my head based on CT images of two-dimensional . Surgery seems to be able to safely communicate between the doctor is also easily can be easily imaged by three -dimensional model . Use a range of 3D printer seems to continue growing more .


パソコンを使って、印刷するように立体物が作れる３Ｄプリンターが、医療現場で活躍し始めている。名古屋大学では昨秋から、医師と工学博士がタッグを組み、内部の血管や病巣まで正確に再現した臓器の立体模型を作製。手術のシミュレーションに使っている。
　「腫瘍（しゅよう）はここだから、ここを、こう切っていけばいいね」
　３月上旬、名大病院の手術室。３人の医師たちが、実物の７割の大きさをした肝臓の立体模型を手にとって額をつきあわせていた。この日は、７０代男性の肝臓がんの手術。点在する直径数ミリの小さながんを摘出するために、手術中に何度も模型を手に取り、ひっくり返してのぞき込んだり、実際の肝臓と照らし合わせたりして腫瘍の位置や手術の進め方を確かめた。
　肝臓は、不透明の茶色い塊だが、その内部には血管が複雑に入り組む。このため、小さな腫瘍を正確に切除するのは至難の業だ。名大病院の腫瘍外科では昨秋から、従来の検査だけでは識別しにくい小さな腫瘍や、難しい手技の肝臓がんの手術の際、立体模型を使い始めた。
　腫瘍外科の伊神講師は「模型を使えば位置を正確に把握でき、医師同士の意思疎通もできる。手術をより安全に進められる」と話す。以前は、２次元のＣＴ画像を元に頭の中で組み立ててイメージしていたという。3次元モデルによってイメージしやすくなり医師間の意思疎通も容易くなり手術も安全にできるようになりそうですね。３Dプリンターの利用範囲はもっと高まっていきそうですね。