Neurovascular Modeling: Small-Batch Manufacturing of Silicone Vascular Replicas
Open Access
- 25 March 2009
- journal article
- Published by American Society of Neuroradiology (ASNR) in American Journal Of Neuroradiology
- Vol. 30 (6), 1159-1164
- https://doi.org/10.3174/ajnr.a1543
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Realistic, population based cerebrovascular replicas are required for the development of neuroendovascular devices. The objective of this work was to develop an efficient methodology for manufacturing realistic cerebrovascular replicas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Brain MR angiography data from 20 patients were acquired. The centerline of the vasculature was calculated, and geometric parameters were measured to describe quantitatively the internal carotid artery (ICA) siphon. A representative model was created on the basis of the quantitative measurements. Using this virtual model, we designed a mold with core-shell structure and converted it into a physical object by fused-deposit manufacturing. Vascular replicas were created by injection molding of different silicones. Mechanical properties, including the stiffness and luminal coefficient of friction, were measured. RESULTS: The average diameter, length, and curvature of the ICA siphon were 4.15 ± 0.09 mm, 22.60 ± 0.79 mm, and 0.34 ± 0.02 mm−1 (average ± standard error of the mean), respectively. From these image datasets, we created a median virtual model, which was transformed into a physical replica by an efficient batch-manufacturing process. The coefficient of friction of the luminal surface of the replica was reduced by up to 55% by using liquid silicone rubber coatings. The modulus ranged from 0.67 to 1.15 MPa compared with 0.42 MPa from human postmortem studies, depending on the material used to make the replica. CONCLUSIONS: Population-representative, smooth, and true-to-scale silicone arterial replicas with uniform wall thickness were successfully built for in vitro neurointerventional device-testing by using a batch-manufacturing process.Keywords
This publication has 29 references indexed in Scilit:
- Highly accurate sigmoidal fitting of real-time PCR data by introducing a parameter for asymmetryBMC Bioinformatics, 2008
- Quantitative analysis of spinal curvature in 3D: application to CT images of normal spinePhysics in Medicine & Biology, 2008
- Methods for Three-Dimensional Geometric Characterization of the Arterial VasculatureAnnals of Biomedical Engineering, 2007
- Anatomic Variations in the Circle of Willis in Patients with Symptomatic Carotid Artery Stenosis Assessed with Multidetector Row CT AngiographyCerebrovascular Diseases, 2006
- Curvature and tortuosity of the superficial femoral artery: a possible risk factor for peripheral arterial diseaseJournal of Applied Physiology, 2006
- The effect of preterm birth on neonatal cerebral vasculature studied with magnetic resonance angiography at 3 TeslaNeuroImage, 2006
- Biomanufacturing: A US-China National Science Foundation–Sponsored WorkshopTissue Engineering, 2006
- Rapid prototyping to create vascular replicas from CT scan data: Making tools to teach, rehearse, and choose treatment strategiesCatheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions, 2005
- Artificial Cerebral Aneurysm Model for Medical Testing, Training, and Research.Neurologia medico-chirurgica, 2003
- In vitroTraining Model for Endovascular Embolization of Cerebral Aneurysmsmin - Minimally Invasive Neurosurgery, 1997