Internal structure analysis of particle-double network gels used in a gel organ replica

Mei Abe; Masanori Arai; Azusa Saito; Kazuyuki Sakai; Masaru Kawakami; Hidemitsu Furukawa

doi:10.1117/12.2218235

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16 April 2016 Internal structure analysis of particle-double network gels used in a gel organ replica

Mei Abe, Masanori Arai, Azusa Saito, Kazuyuki Sakai, Masaru Kawakami, Hidemitsu Furukawa

Proceedings Volume 9802, Nanosensors, Biosensors, and Info-Tech Sensors and Systems 2016; 98020I (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2218235
Event: SPIE Smart Structures and Materials + Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring, 2016, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Abstract

In recent years, the fabrication of patient organ replicas using 3D printers has been attracting a great deal of attention in medical fields. However, the cost of these organ replicas is very high as it is necessary to employ very expensive 3D printers and printing materials. Here we present a new gel organ replica, of human kidney, fabricated with a conventional molding technique, using a particle-double network hydrogel (P-DN gel). The replica is transparent and has the feel of a real kidney. It is expected that gel organ replicas produced this way will be a useful tool for the education of trainee surgeons and clinical ultrasonography technologists. In addition to developing a gel organ replica, the internal structure of the P-DN gel used is also discussed. Because the P-DN gel has a complex structure comprised of two different types of network, it has not been possible to investigate them internally in detail. Gels have an inhomogeneous network structure. If it is able to get a more uniform structure, it is considered that this would lead to higher strength in the gel. In the present study we investigate the structure of P-DN gel, using the gel organ replica. We investigated the internal structure of P-DN gel using Scanning Microscopic Light Scattering (SMILS), a non-contacting and non-destructive.

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Mei Abe, Masanori Arai, Azusa Saito, Kazuyuki Sakai, Masaru Kawakami, and Hidemitsu Furukawa "Internal structure analysis of particle-double network gels used in a gel organ replica", Proc. SPIE 9802, Nanosensors, Biosensors, and Info-Tech Sensors and Systems 2016, 98020I (16 April 2016); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2218235

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