From 3D printing to virtual reality, a research team at Statale is developing advanced models to train surgeons on real pathologies, without risks to patients. The project, supported by MUSA, has already become a university spin-off.

Developing materials and models for the creation of surgical simulation environments, that is, giving the possibility to create environments that can support surgical practice on real patients by acting on the training of the surgeons of tomorrow. This is the heart of the project Haptic and Virtual Models for Surgical Training and Personalized Medicine, developed within the MUSA system and carried out by a research team from the Department of Physics of the University of Milan.

“The goal is to create surgical simulation environments that can support traditional clinical practice, improving the training of the surgeons of tomorrow,” explains Lorenzo Migliorini, a researcher involved in the project. “Our project consists in the development and creation of digital models and physical models that surgeons can use to practice and train before going on patients. Everything starts from real patients from the diagnostic image of real pathologies that are recreated in augmented reality and virtual reality environments so that residents can freely explore the pathological anatomy before getting their hands on it”.

Alongside the virtual models, the project also includes the creation of highly realistic physical models, thanks to 3D printing and tissue-equivalent materials. “These are materials capable of simulating not only the shape and size of biological tissues, but also their mechanical response – continues Migliorini -. This makes the training experience much closer to the real one.”

The project is already in an advanced stage. In the last two years, workshops have been organized, involving about 250 students and residents, with a significant impact especially in the Milan area. “We have received very positive feedback from users and professionals in the sector. This encourages us to further expand the approach.” Although some similar products already exist on the market, the sector is still in its infancy. However, demand is growing: “We are being asked for more and more models, so we need to equip ourselves to produce them in greater numbers and customize them according to specific needs – explains the researcher – Each anatomical district has its own characteristics: brain tissue responds differently than kidney tissue, and we aim to reproduce these differences.”

To give continuity to the research work and promote technology transfer, a startup spin-off of the University of Milan has also been created, with the aim of bringing these tools from research to the market and, above all, to daily clinical practice. “We want this technology to have a real impact, both in training and in the personalization of the medicine of the future,” concludes Migliorini.