Rapid prototyping of compliant human aortic roots for assessment of valved stents

Martins Kalejs, Ludwig Karl Von Segesser

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

50 Citations (Scopus)
17 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Adequate in-vitro training in valved stents deployment as well as testing of the latter devices requires compliant real-size models of the human aortic root. The casting methods utilized up to now are multi-step, time consuming and complicated. We pursued a goal of building a flexible 3D model in a single-step procedure. We created a precise 3D CAD model of a human aortic root using previously published anatomical and geometrical data and printed it using a novel rapid prototyping system developed by the Fab@Home project. As a material for 3D fabrication we used common house-hold silicone and afterwards dip-coated several models with dispersion silicone one or two times. To assess the production precision we compared the size of the final product with the CAD model. Compliance of the models was measured and compared with native porcine aortic root. Total fabrication time was 3 h and 20 min. Dip-coating one or two times with dispersion silicone if applied took one or two extra days, respectively. The error in dimensions of non-coated aortic root model compared to the CAD design was <3.0% along X, Y-axes and 4.1% along Z-axis. Compliance of a non-coated model as judged by the changes of radius values in the radial direction by 16.39% is significantly different (P<0.001) from native aortic tissue - 23.54% at the pressure of 80-100 mmHg. Rapid prototyping of compliant, life-size anatomical models with the Fab@Home 3D printer is feasible - it is very quick compared to previous casting methods.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)182-186
Number of pages5
JournalInteractive Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery
Volume8
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2009
Externally publishedYes

Keywords*

  • 3D print
  • Aortic root
  • Stent valve
  • Stereolitography
  • Trancatheter valve replacement

Field of Science*

  • 3.2 Clinical medicine

Publication Type*

  • 1.1. Scientific article indexed in Web of Science and/or Scopus database

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