title: Rapid vessel prototyping: vascular modeling using 3t magnetic resonance angiography and rapid prototyping technology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Conversion of thoracic aortic vasculature as measured by Magnetic Resonance Imaging into a real physical replica.
  
  
  METHODS
  Several procedural steps including data acquisition with contrast enhanced MR Angiography at 3T, data visualization and 3D computer model generation, as well as rapid prototyping were used to construct an in-vitro model of the vessel geometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A rapid vessel prototyping process was implemented and used to convert complex vascular geometry of the entire thoracic aorta and major branching arteries into a real physical replica with large anatomical coverage and high spatial resolution.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rapid vessel prototyping permits the creation of a concrete solid replica of a patient's vascular anatomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Medical Physics, University Hospital Freiburg, Hugstetter Strasse 55, Freiburg, 79106, Germany. michael.markl@uniklinik-freiburg.de
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Markl
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schumacher
authors.forename: Jürg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Küffer
authors.forename: Thorsten A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Bley
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hennig
mesh_terms: D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular