Case Study 1: Surgical Training.
In 2018, the Annual Frontal Endoscopic Sinus Surgery Course (FESS) was held at Adelaide University, Ray Larson Laboratory, as requested by the Royal Australian College of Surgeons (RACS). A total of 22 cadavers were imported, of which two cadavers had already had the sinus removed, during their natural lives. In attendance were 40 registrars/surgeons, plus multiple faculty assisting the master surgeon. Each attendee was allocated half a sinus to work on during the 3-day FESS course. Fast forward to 2021, and the annual FESS course was relocated to Fusetec’s Advanced Surgical Training Clinic and each surgeon was allocated 3 sinus models each, equating to 6 times the level of surgical training, all for the same cost. The master surgeon would dissect a model with attendees observing the procedure. Then attendees would be allocated the exact same anatomical model to dissect under supervision from the master surgeon and faculty. With the use of advanced manufactured anatomical replicas, derived from digital data developed by our R&D team, the anatomy and learning experience was controlled, each participant’s skill level could now be accurately assessed. A survey of all participants was overwhelmingly in support of the training program, and future FESS courses have been pre-booked at the Fusetec Advanced Surgical Clinic.
Case Study 2: Real Life Surgery
An Inverted Papilloma (IP) is a rare tumour, located in the nasal cavity, requiring endonasal endoscopy surgery. As IP’s are uncommon, when a case was presented in 2021 to a globally renowned Otolaryngologist, they purchased two Inverted Papilloma models from Fusetec and rehearsed the procedure prior to the live surgery. The surgery was a success, the rehearsal led to the refreshing of surgical skills, the surgeon and patient were elated with the outcome.
Case Study 3: Collaboration
Many challenges must be overcome during product development, an example is the Total Knee Replacement (TKR) model, commissioned by a Global Tier 1 Medical Device Company. Fusetec also collaborated with Flinders University to identify the material parameters against 20 years of historical data on human tissue. Fusetec also undertook a finite element model (FEM) to determine the ligament parameters to replicate cadaveric data Using these parameters to manufacture a series of knee models which were tested in a six degree of freedom hexapod robot. The surgical training models developed in this study reduce the need for cadaveric specimens when training the TKR technique. Material science was used to develop new materials that anatomically mimicked the strength and flexibility of the medial, lateral, ACL and PCL ligaments. Collaboration with higher education is driving product development of complex anatomical replicas, translating ideas into products, then commercialising into markets worldwide. The TKR model is used globally to up-skill surgeons in the use of robotic aids during surgery, improving the quality of healthcare outcomes.