Feature

To boldly go…3D printing reaches new frontiers within the medical sector

Bordeaux University Hospital (CHU) in France is leading the charge to improve success rates of complex kidney tumour removal surgery, using 3D printing technology. The CHU is currently one of the only hospitals worldwide to use a Stratasys J750 – the world’s only full-colour, multi-material 3D printer – for complex kidney tumour removal cases.

29/11/2019 14:50:31

The surgical team at the CHU’s Department of Urology and Kidney Transplantation 3D prints life-like transparent and colour models of the patient’s anatomy to help perform precise and successful kidney-sparing surgery and improve patient outcomes.

Jean-Christophe Bernhard, Urology Professor at Bordeaux University Hospital, says the clearer view offered by the 3D printed model helps identify and avoid damage to the delicate nearby arteries and vessels which, in the case of complex or high-volume tumours, can result in a patient’s kidney being completely removed.

Sparing the patient’s kidney is important because it reduces the chance of subsequently suffering from chronic kidney disease.

Read the full story in the December issue of DPA.

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.