title: Patient specific biomodel of the whole aorta - the importance of calcified plaque removal.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of anatomical models produced by 3D printing technique (rapid prototyping, RP) is gaining increased acceptance as a complementary tool for planning complex surgical interventions. This paper describes a method for creating a patient specific replica of the whole aorta.
  
  
  METHODS
  Computed tomography angiography (CTA) DICOM-data was converted to a three-dimensional computer aided design-model (CAD) of the inner wall of the aorta representing the lumen where the calcified plaque contribution was removed in a multi-step editing-manoeuvre. The edited CAD-model was used for creating a physical plaster model of the true lumen in a 3D-printer. Elastic and transparent silicon was applied onto the plaster model, which was then removed leaving a silicon replica of the aorta.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median (interquartile range) difference between diameters obtained from CTA- and RP plaster-model at 19 predefined locations was 0.5 mm (1 mm) which corresponds to a relative median difference of 4.6% (7.0%). The average wall thickness of the silicone model was 3.5 mm. The elasticity property and performance during intervention was good with an acceptable transparency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The integration of RP-techniques with CAD based reconstruction of 3D-medical imaging data provides the needed tools for making a truly patient specific replica of the whole aorta with high accuracy. Plaque removal postprocessing is necessary to obtain a true inner wall configuration.
authors.affiliation: Division of Industrial Design, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Håkansson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rantatalo
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wanhainen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D001027:Aortography; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003198:Computer Simulation; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012828:Silicones; D012984:Software; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed
chemical_list: D012828:Silicones