CAD Employed For Breast Tissue Reconstruction

Mechanical Engineers have had major breakthroughs in the past, but this one's a little different. This one is an application of mechanical engineering in the medical field. #-Link-Snipped-#has published an article, according to which researchers are employing CAD (Computer Aided Design) technology to develop an exact mold of a breast, that serves as a visual aid to surgeons in tissue reconstruction operations. Besides this, CAD was employed to design and produce unique patient physical forms that could actually be applied together with tissue engineering.

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The CAD model of the breast

CAD  is believed to be advantageous over traditional approaches, letting in the ability to work to full scale, study the design from all possible angles and to sustain downright precision. A laser scan of the breast is first taken, then by using CAD a design of the breast-like form with high porosity is developed, which is then filled-in using the patient's cell along with a hydrogel.

Theoretically, patients’ own cells could be controlled and developed onto the highly specific form and then be located to the affected region, annulling the requirement to shift tissue from other parts of the body. After taking proper permission of the female patients who suffered from breast cancer, a 3D laser scan as carried out. These images were then uploaded on the CAD software, which developed a breast model accordingly. This image was late printed in 3d format to develop a breast mold, which aided surgeons in various operations acting as a visual aid. The accuracy increased after every operation and a more complete shape with higher degree of symmetry between the breast could be witnessed. Even the patients reported that they were satisfied with the results.

In the long run, the study aims to develop a material that could be employed in tissue engineering and that CAD could prove very helpful in accomplishing this goal.