Brain blood vessels, suspected meningitis, 3D printed nylon

Mouse umbilical cord

Medicinal leech Hirudo verbena

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Blood vessels in a female human adult brain, from a patient with suspected bacterial meningitis. The 2D data contained in the patient's MRI scans were converted into 3D renders by the artist who was then able to export them to a printable format so that they could be 3D printed in white nylon by selective laser sintering (SLS). 



Meningitis is the infection of the protective membranes around the brain and spinal cord (meninges) and can be bacterial or viral. Bacterial meningitis can be very severe and if left untreated can cause brain damage and infection of the blood (septicaemia). It can be caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, group B Streptococcus, Listeria monocytogenes, Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria meningitidis.



Wellcome Trust photography by Ben Gilbert.

Photomacrograph of a cocoon from the medicinal leech Hirudo verbana. Leeches are hermaphrodites and have both a male and a female genital organ. They lay fertilised eggs into a cocoon which nourishes and protects the eggs as they develop. Leeches are aquatic, blood sucking, segmented worms, which mainly feed on mammalian blood. In a single feed they can consume over 3 times their body weight in blood. There are several species of medicinal leech which are used in medicine today to help re-establish blood flow to skin grafts and to reattached body parts. Leech saliva contains many proteins which have anti-coagulant, anti-inflammatory, vasodilating and anaesthetic properties. Historically leeches were used for blood letting in order to balance the humours of the body. Width of image is 2 cm.

Cocoon from medicinal leech Hirudo verbena

False colour SEM of a mouse umbilical cord. The umbilical cord develops during fetal development and connects the baby to the mother. Blood circulates from the placenta through the cord to provide nutrients to help the fetus grow and supplies cxygen and removes carbon dioxide via gas exhange in the cord.

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Blood flow

Images

Works

Brain blood vessels, suspected meningitis, 3D printed nylon

Cocoon from medicinal leech Hirudo verbena

Brain blood vessels, suspected meningitis, 3D printed nylon

Mouse umbilical cord

Brain blood vessels, suspected meningitis, 3D printed nylon

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Wellcome uses cookies.

Blood flow

Images

Works

Brain blood vessels, suspected meningitis, 3D printed nylon

Cocoon from medicinal leech Hirudo verbena

Brain blood vessels, suspected meningitis, 3D printed nylon

Mouse umbilical cord

Brain blood vessels, suspected meningitis, 3D printed nylon

Wellcome Collection

Today’s opening times