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3D Printing Design for Infants’ Medical Consumables
inflatable cuff of BB infants only determines that BB can measurements repeatedly (Figure 3) . These are
[13]
enter and seal the bronchus . Second, the longitudinal indispensable parameters for the design of the inflatable
[7]
diameter (LD) of cuff may protect the right upper lobe sealing cuff for BB infants only although it can be costly
(RUL) opening without obstruction . Finally, the length when more cases are measured. Furthermore, the non-
[8]
of the catheter body (LCB) needs to suit the infant’s transparent convex 3D printing model cannot reflect the
airway anatomy . If it is too long, it is rather difficult internal conditions of trachea and bronchus and the actual
[9]
to control and if it is too short, it cannot reach the sealing effect of the sample cannot be verified. Hence, the
bronchus. Therefore, how to obtain the above-mentioned goal of this study is to apply 3D printing technology to
measurement data are a crucial technological issue of this design new BB for infants in a more accurate and efficient
study (Figure 1). manner.
The strategy to measure infant’s airway
parameters under two-dimensional (2D) CT scan
airway reconstruction is to select the section with
the greatest and clearest tracheobronchial view for
measurement [10] . Nonetheless, this section may not
be the perpendicular section of the airway. Due to
the position of the infant, the measurement value
may be too large. At the same time, comparatively
small measurement data, such as TD and LD, and
computer software point measurement are relatively
susceptible to manual measurement error (Figure 2) [11] .
Similar measurement problem may also affect three-
dimensional (3D) airway reconstruction [12] .
The common non-transparent convex 3D printed
model can measure these anatomical data with
comparatively high accuracy and facilitate accurate
Figure 2. The strategy of measurement using airway CT scan on
A B C infants. Abbreviations: TD, transverse diameter; LD, longitudinal
diameter; LCB, length of the catheter body; RUL, right upper
lobe.

A B

Figure 1. Key points to designing bronchial blocker. (A) The
catheter body of BB infants only on trial-produced sample.
Abbreviation: LCB, length of the catheter body. (B) The inflatable
cuff of BB infants only on trial-produced sample. Abbreviations:
TD, transverse diameter; LD, longitudinal diameter; Cuff, inflatable
cuff of BB). (C) Locations of important design parameters in a 3D
printed airway model. Abbreviations: LCB, length of the catheter
body; RUL, right upper lobe; G-C, distance from glottis to carina,
LD. To match up with distance from upper margin of right upper Figure 3. Common convex 3D printing models of airway of an
lobe opening to carina; TD, to match up with the diameter of the 1-month-old infant weighed 5 kg. (A) 3D printed 1:1; (B) 3D
right main bronchus. printed 1:3.

32 International Journal of Bioprinting (2022)–Volume 8, Issue 3