title: [An anatomic facsimile model with origin inner ear structures for temporal bone preparations].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Microsurgical dissection exercises are essential in otosurgery training. Human temporal bone specimens are rarely available for necessary extensive preparation steps up to the cochlea. This requires the development of new Anatomical Facsimile Models (AFM) of the temporal bone with its diffizil internal structures.
  
  
  METHODS
  The construction of AFM was realized by rapid prototyping technologies. Data for processing come from high resolution CT-scans.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With the production of AFM true to the original structures of the temporal bone by rapid prototyping methods it was possible to reproduce the very small cavity structures of the inner ear (cochlea, semicircular canals). All cavity structures of the temporal bone, including the middle ear, are constructed without solid support material. This allows the introduction of Cochlea-Implant electrodes into the cochlea.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of modern rapid prototyping technologies enables us to produce any number of identical models of an original specimen. The preparation steps and the material properties correspond to those of the original temporal bone. Therefore AFM are excellent preparation models.
authors.affiliation: Otto-von-Guericke Universität, Univ. HNO-Klinik, Magdeburg.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Vorwerk
authors.forename: K-H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Grote
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beyer
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arens
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Vorwerk
mesh_terms: D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000193:education; D003198:Computer Simulation; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D003479:Curriculum; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000601:surgery*; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000193:education*; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D010036:Otolaryngology / Q000193:education*; D012984:Software; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods