Customizing a Cardiac Simulator Using 3D Printed Anatomic Models

Abstract

Cardiac surgery relies on preparation from the interventionist cardiologists and other practitioners involved in order to avoid vascular complications after the operation for the patient. There have been studies performed alongside medical residents, which found that the number of cases needed to gain proficiency in cardiac procedures involving a catheter is at least 52. However, limited opportunities for practice before the catheterization result in fewer procedures being performed. Interventionist cardiologists can avoid the hazards of cadaveric dissection by using 3D printed anatomical models in conjunction with a flow simulator. The anatomical models can also help to highlight qualities that are not immediately visible in situ. These anatomical models can be customizable to the patient’s anatomy, thus minimizing the vascular complications rate and providing a sufficient learning curve to assure an optimal experience for all parties involved. Whilst creating the anatomical models for acardiac surgery simulator to perform TAVR, an idea emerged to adapt the heart model to allow the incorporation of medical devices through modularization and the adequacy through design for additive manufacturing of each section to work within the proposedsystem. The acquisition and reconstruction of the anatomical models was performed using segmentation and design software for medical images. The models then entered a production phase through additive manufacturing, using materials resembling the mechanical properties of organic tissue. These properties were tested to figure out anyresemblance with the values reported for the aorta. Afterwards, the manufactured models underwent a digitalization and inspection phase to verify their compliance against the original models. The anatomical models designed considered the trajectory interventionist cardiologists must go over to perform main types of cardiac catheterizations, along with the blood flow required to operate within the system of the simulator. In conclusion, the modularity of cardiac anatomic models and their use on a surgery simulator was achieved and could open the possibility for more practice spaces for medical professionals