Brain Surgery With Zero Risk, Via 3-D Printer

摘要

A patient lies unconscious on the operating table. Fluid in her brain cavities has built up to dangerous levels. For the patient to survive, a neurosurgeon must drill a hole in her skull to insert a drainage tube. And fast. But a slight slip of the surgeon's hand could result in hemorrhaging, memory loss, partial paralysis or even death. This kind of high-pressure situation demands perfection, but that perfection takes practice. "Imagine trying to learn in an environment where you are not allowed to make a mistake," says Frank Bova, professor of neurosurgery at the University of Florida medical school.