[ad_1]
Patches, the dachshund hit by cancer, feels better thanks to researchers at a Canadian university.
The university said the procedure was a first veterinarian in North America.
The 9-year-old dog had a large cancerous tumor on her forehead that was growing dangerously close to her cerebral orbit. According to the university, she was so big that she started to weigh on her head and grow in her skull.
Oblak mapped the dog's tumor with the help of rapid prototyping and 3D-printed implants for reconstruction. She performed removal of the tumor on a 3D model of the skull and patches tumor.
"I was able to do the operation even before entering the operating room," Oblak said in a statement from the university.
Oblak praised the technology, adding that the plate used to replace the Patches skull was designed specifically for her.
"What was really interesting in this case was the fact that we were able to take these scans and create a plate perfectly suited to this dog," said Oblak.
Without 3D printing, creating the plate is a more generic process. The titanium mesh is molded into a general model, which is then modified for the patient.
"[3D printing] "We are focusing more on an implant designed for everyday use that requires modification for a patient than on a patient-specific implant designed directly for them," said Oblak.
Oblak mentioned the possibility of using this technology on humans. "What's really great is that we are able to use this advanced technology in our animal patients, but we will also be able to provide valuable information so that it can be used also in humans." " she says.
As for Patches, she has six months without cancer and her operation has been a success, said her owner, Danielle Dymeck. Unrelated to surgery, Patches slipped a disc in his back shortly after the intervention, but Dymeck's attitude is still positive.
"She was just ready to become a dog again," Dymeck said of Patches' recovery. "Cancer research, as they do, is very important for humans and animals."
Source link