Advanced Manufacturing in the Fabrication of a Lifelike Brain Glioblastoma Simulator for the Training of Neurosurgeons

Pin Chuan Chen, Yu Wen Yang, Jang Chun Lin, Wei Hsiu Liu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Neurosurgeons require considerable expertise and practical experience to deal with the critical situations commonly encountered in complex surgical operations such as cerebral cancer; however, trainees in neurosurgery seldom have the opportunity to develop these skills in the operating room. Physical simulators can give trainees the experience they require. In this study, we adopted advanced molding and replication techniques in the fabrication of a physical simulator for use in practicing the removal of cerebral tumors. Our combination of additive manufacturing and molding technology with elastic material casting made it possible to create a simulator that realistically mimics the skull, brain stem, soft brain lobes, and cerebral cancer with cerebral tumors located precisely where they are likely to appear. Multiple and systematic experiments were conducted to prove that the elastic material used herein was appropriated for building professional medical physical simulator. One neurosurgical trainee reported that under the guidance of a senior neurosurgeon, the physical simulator helped to elucidate the overall process of cerebral cancer removal and provided a realistic impression of the tactile feelings involved in craniotomy. The trainee also learned how to make decisions when facing the infiltration of a cerebral tumor into normal brain lobes. Our results demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed physical simulator in preparing trainees for the rigors involved in performing highly delicate surgical operations.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1072
JournalPolymers
Volume14
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 1 2022

Keywords

  • Brain simulator
  • Cerebral cancer surgery practice
  • Neurosurgeon surgical simulator

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • Polymers and Plastics

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