Operating according to plan

28. Bern - SNF Rapid prototyping processes that were originally developed for producing industrial samples have recently been adopted by clinical medicine. The ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering Research at the University of Berne uses computed tomography data to produce individual three-dimensional models of organs. These help surgeons when they are planning and performing complex operations such as the removal of liver tumours. Using anatomically accurate, detailed models helped surgeons at Berne"s Inselspital hospital with spatial orientation and made it easier for them to use surgical instruments precisely. Prof. Daniel Candinas, MD (left) and Prof. Beat Gloor, MD use the model to plan the removal of a liver tumour (shown in yellow) without endangering the blood vessels in the healthy tissue (shown in blue). The ideal incision point is shown in green.