title: Three-dimensional printing to facilitate anatomic study, device development, simulation, and planning in thoracic surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The development and deployment of new technologies in additive 3-dimensional (3D) printing (ie, rapid prototyping and additive manufacturing) in conjunction with medical imaging techniques allow the creation of anatomic models based on patient data.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore this rapidly evolving technology for possible use in care and research for patients undergoing thoracic surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Because of an active research project at our institution on regional lung chemotherapy, human pulmonary arteries (PAs) were chosen for this rapid prototyping project. Computed tomography (CT) and CT angiography in combination with segmentation techniques from 2 software packages were used for rapid generation and adjustment of the 3D polygon mesh and models reconstruction of the PAs. The reconstructed models were exported as stereolithographic data sets and further processed by trimming, smoothing, and wall extrusion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Flexible 3D printed replicas of 10 patient PAs were created successfully with no print failures; however, 1 initial test print with a 1 mm mural thickness was too fragile so the whole group was printed with a 1.5 mm wall. The design process took 8 hours for each model (CT image to stereolithographic) and printing required 97 hours in aggregate. Useful differences in anatomy were defined by this method, such as the expected greater number of proximal branches on the left versus right (2.5 ± 1.1 vs 1.0 ± 0.0; P = .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reconstructed models of pulmonary arteries using 3D rapid prototyping allow replication of sophisticated anatomical structures that can be used to facilitate anatomic study, surgical planning, and device development.
authors: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY.
authors: Sergei N
authors: SN
authors: Kurenov
authors: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Toshiba Stroke and Vascular Research Center, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY.
authors: Ciprian
authors: C
authors: Ionita
authors: Engineering and Design, Incodema 3D LLC, East Syracuse, NY.
authors: Dan
authors: D
authors: Sammons
authors: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY. Electronic address: Todd.Demmy@roswellpark.org.
authors: Todd L
authors: TL
authors: Demmy
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010478:Chemotherapy, Cancer, Regional Perfusion / Q000295:instrumentation; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D066330:Printing, Three-Dimensional; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D012984:Software; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D062666:Vascular Access Devices
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents