In vitro, nonrigid model of aortic arch aneurysm

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Imaging
• Cardiovascular Research

Background:

• Aortic arch aneurysms pose significant clinical challenges.
• In vitro models are crucial for understanding aneurysm development and testing treatments.
• Existing models may lack patient-specific accuracy or flexibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a patient-derived process for creating an in vitro, nonrigid model of aortic arch aneurysm.
• To establish a reliable method for fabricating realistic vascular phantoms.

Main Methods:

• A 3D magnetic resonance (MR) angiogram from an aortic arch aneurysm patient was segmented using custom software.
• The segmented data was converted to Standard Tessellation Language (STL) format.
• Stereolithography was used to create a silicone rubber replica of the aorta and aneurysm.

Main Results:

• A sturdy, life-size, soft, transparent silicone cast accurately replicating aortic aneurysm anatomy was produced in under a week.
• Validation confirmed the reliability of the manufacturing process by comparing the STL file with the patient's MR angiogram.
• The model captured both internal and external anatomical features.

Conclusions:

• Combining patient imaging data, STL conversion, and stereolithography enables realistic, life-size silicone vascular phantom creation.
• This patient-derived in vitro model provides a valuable tool for research and education on aortic arch aneurysms.