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Development and Evaluation of 3D-Printed Cardiovascular Phantoms for Interventional Planning and Training
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3D printed mitral valve models: affordable simulation for robotic mitral valve repair
Ned Premyodhin1, Divneet Mandair1, Alice S Ferng1
1Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson, Tucson, AZ, USA.
Interactive Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery
|October 20, 2017
Summary
3D printed mitral valve models offer realistic surgical training. These affordable, silicone models accurately simulate tissue feel and suture response, aiding in preoperative rehearsal and skill assessment.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Surgical Simulation
- Medical Device Development
Background:
- Current surgical training relies on limited resources.
- Virtual simulators lack tactile feedback crucial for mitral valve repair.
- Patient-specific models are needed for preoperative rehearsal.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate affordable 3D printed mitral valve (MV) models for surgical training.
- To assess the fidelity of these models in simulating real valvular tissue and suture response.
- To determine the utility of these models in differentiating surgical skill levels.
Main Methods:
- Utilized polyvinyl alcohol to 3D print molds for silicone mitral valve models.
- Fabricated models for normal and P2 flail mitral valve morphologies.
- Tested suture response and tactile feedback in a robotic surgical system with expert evaluation.
Main Results:
- 3D printed models maintained anatomical accuracy within 3% of controls.
- Evaluators rated models highly for realistic suture response, tensile strength, and anatomical appearance (5.0/5).
- Model durability was rated as appropriate (4.0/5); notable differences in repair quality were observed between trainees and attendings.
Conclusions:
- 3D computer-aided design and printing enable the creation of high-quality, affordable educational models.
- These models effectively simulate mitral valve tissue and suture interactions for surgical training.
- The models can differentiate proficiency levels, enhancing technical skill development.
