title: Development and testing of a silicone in vitro model of descending aortic dissection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stanford type B dissection of the descending aorta is a potentially fatal condition that is poorly understood. Limited scientific understanding of the role of current interventional techniques, as well as heterogeneity in the condition, contributes to lack of consensus as to the most effective treatment strategy. This study introduces an anatomically accurate model for investigating aortic dissection in a laboratory setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  A silicone model was fabricated and filled with fluid to mimic human blood. Flow was established, and the model was scanned using a four-dimensional flow magnetic resonance imaging protocol. On analysis, luminal flow rates were quantified by multiplying local velocity by included area.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The upstream total flow was compared with the sum of the flow in the true and false lumens. The two values were within the margin of error. Furthermore, flow rates matched with the relative areas of each compartment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results validate our model as a novel and unique system that mimics a type B aortic dissection and will allow for more sophisticated analysis of dissection physiology in future studies.
authors.affiliation: Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia. Electronic address: jbirjin@emory.edu.
authors.forename: Joav
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Birjiniuk
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.
authors.forename: Jean Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ruddy
authors.affiliation: Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Iffrig
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Travis S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Joseph B. Whitehead Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Bradley G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Leshnower
authors.affiliation: Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia; Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: John N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Oshinski
authors.affiliation: George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: David N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Ku
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery, Joseph B. Whitehead Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Ravi K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Veeraswamy
mesh_terms: D000784:Aortic Dissection; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm; D006801:Humans; D008953:Models, Anatomic
keywords: 4D flow MRI; Aortic dissection; Flow model; Translational research