title: Prototyping of cerebral vasculature physical models.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prototyping of cerebral vasculature models through stereolithographic methods have the ability to accurately depict the 3D structures of complicated aneurysms with high accuracy. We describe the method to manufacture such a model and review some of its uses in the context of treatment planning, research, and surgical training.
  
  
  METHODS
  We prospectively used the data from the rotational angiography of a 40-year-old female who presented with an unruptured right paraclinoid aneurysm. The 3D virtual model was then converted to a physical life-sized model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The model constructed was shown to be a very accurate depiction of the aneurysm and its associated vasculature. It was found to be useful, among other things, for surgical training and as a patient education tool.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With improving and more widespread printing options, these models have the potential to become an important part of research and training modalities.
authors.affiliation: J.B. Marshall Laboratory for Neurovascular Therapeutics, NH, USA ; Section of Neurosurgery, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA.
authors.forename: Imad S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
authors.forename: Patrick D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: J.B. Marshall Laboratory for Neurovascular Therapeutics, NH, USA ; Section of Neurosurgery, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA.
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Singer
keywords: 3D modeling; Cerebral aneurysm; physical model; rapid prototyping; stereolithographic methods; training tool