Creation of a 3D Printed Model: From Virtual to Physical

Abstract

The assessment and management of children and adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) heavily relies upon accurate imaging of the morphology and interrelationships between the cardiac structures. The advent of three-dimensional (3D) printing has allowed for virtual imaging to be printed into tangible models for individualized care. 3D printed heart models have now gained acceptance in cardiac medicine as an additional tool for detailed surgical and interventional planning, especially in corrected or palliated complex CHD. The source datasets for 3D printing include computed tomography, cardiac magnetic resonance, and 3D echocardiography. The settings for image acquisition are critical for high-quality and accurate 3D printed models. Moreover, as each imaging modality has different strengths, integration of the best aspects for hybrid 3D printing may improve the accuracy of the heart models. The components of the heart derived from imaging modalities are segmented by semi-automated methods on dedicated post-processing software followed by 3D rendering. The 3D rendered virtual model is converted into a physical model on a 3D printer. The contribution of experts with in-depth knowledge of cardiac morphology is vital for every step involved in the creation of an accurate 3D model of the heart. The 3D printed model may be useful for teaching patients and family members as well as other medical professionals. As 3D printed heart models are a static representation of a dynamic organ, the functional and hemodynamic characteristics are lost. The visualization of 3D virtual dynamic heart models on a 3D platform with augmented reality will define the future of personalized cardiac medicine.