Publikationsdatenbank

Developing a new simulator of the rat for laboratory animal training courses using 3D printing (2019)

Art

Vortrag

Autoren

Corte, Giuliano Mario (WE 1)

Humpenöder, Melanie (WE 11)

Pfützner, Marcel (WE 1)

Merle, Roswitha (WE 16)

Ladwig-Wiegard, Mechthild (WE 11)

Thöne-Reineke, Christa (WE 11)

Plendl, Johanna (WE 1)

Kongress

19th Annual Congress of EUSAAT

Linz, 10. – 13.10.2019

Quelle

ALTEX proceedings

Bandzählung: 8

Heftzählung: 1

Seiten: 36

ISSN: 2194-0479

Sprache

Englisch

Verweise

URL (Volltext): http://www.altex.ch/resources/altex_Linz2019_Abstracts.pdf

Kontakt

Institut für Tierschutz, Tierverhalten und Versuchstierkunde

Königsweg 67
14163 Berlin
+49 30 838 61146
tierschutz@vetmed.fu-berlin.de

Abstract / Zusammenfassung

Introduction:
In accordance to the Directive 63/2010/EU courses involving rats and mice are classified as animal experiments [1]. As the direc-tive additionally demands the implementation of the 3Rs, sim-ulators of the rat and mouse were developed, intended to serve as an initial training device for various techniques, prior work-ing on live animals. Nevertheless, only little is known about the simulators’ general suitability and anatomically correctness. For this reason, the research project “SimulRATor”, consisting of a team of anatomists, laboratory animal scientists, epidemiologists and an engineer with a medical background, currently evaluates all six commercially available rat and mouse simulators. In this multi-perspective approach, amongst other things, their anatom-ical correctness in comparison with live rats, as well as their ro-bustness and functionality will be determined. In parallel to the evaluations, the basic framework and structure of the simulator is virtually designed and test prints are made. This evaluation will help to define technical and structural specifications needed for the development of a new, anatomically and haptically realistic and cost-effective 3D-printed simulator of the rat, which will en-able the training of all relevant practical techniques.

Materials and methods:
For the creation of the required 3D model, already existing com-puted tomography scans of a 12-month-old Wistar rat were used. To create a virtual and printable 3D model, various software such as Slicer, Blender and CATIA V5 were used. The anatomy, pos-ture and functional elements have been modified and bone defects caused by the segmentation algorithm have been corrected man-ually. 80% of the simulator parts will then be produced using the 3D-printing technology. To achieve the different haptical charac-teristics of the rat, Multi-Jet-Modelling (MJM, Stratasys J750) was the choice out of a high variety of techniques. This enables the combination of different types of soft and hard materials with-in the building process.

Results:
The initial evaluations confirm specific technical and structural specifications needed for the development of the new, anatomi-cally and haptically realistic simulator of the rat. The simulator, which was designed in accordance with the results of the initial evaluations, is currently under construction. To determine its hap-tic, some test prints have already been performed and both hard and soft materials were processed. The material spectrum current-ly available in the field of additive manufacturing, is not suitable for the production of a soft, flexible and durable structure, since a degree of softness cannot be undercut. Therefore, especially for the construction of the skin, a conventional casting technique by mold-modelling using silicone rubber is used. Besides the skin, all remaining structures will nevertheless be produced by means of MJM printing, in order to achieve the most realistic possible haptic.