New Technology Uses 3-D Models To Help Save the Lives of Man's Best Friend
By Stephanie Stahl
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- On the CBS3 Health Watch, a break thru 3-dimensional technology that's used to save the life of man's best friend.
The University of Pennsylvania's school of Veterinary Medicine does some amazing things. Now, they're taking brain surgery to a whole new level.
Clubber has gotten used to wearing sunglasses for fun at Penn, where he's treated like a movie star.
"He loves all the people he meets, he loves all the dogs he meets, he's just a really happy dog," said Kerrie Tiedemann, Clubber's owner.
Kerrie Tiedemann, a vet student who rescued Clubber, found a funny lump on his head. Imaging found it was a rare skull cancer.
The only hope is a first of its kind brain surgery that uses 3-D technology.
Using scans, Penn Design's Fabrication Lab created 3-D models.
"If you don't have a model in front of you it's hard to say well, I know an eye is gonna sit here, so we're actually going to have to move the eye out of the way," said Jonathon Wood, a veterinary neurosurgeon at Penn.
Wood says the team also had this mesh implant, custom fitted, made ahead of time to replace the portion of Clubber's missing skull.
Three months after his surgery, Clubber is doing better than expected.
"He's been great, he's like normal, he's his happy self," Tiedemann said. "this is why i got into vet med and to know this is going to help other animals and other people like me to be able to help dogs is just amazing."
Penn vet is now collaborating with the NIH to create a smart neurology web site that show cases 3-dimensional technology to help owners and vet students better understand canine brains.
For more information, go to www.vet.upenn.edu and http://3dprint.nih.gov/users/smart-neuro-penn-vet