Abstract
Now, more and more patients are suffering cerebral aneurysm. However, long training time limits the rapid growth of cerebrovascular neurosurgeons. Here we developed a novel cerebral aneurysm simulator which can be better represented the dynamic bulging process of cerebral aneurysm The proposed simulator features the integration of a hollow elastic vascular model, a skull model and a brain model, which can be affordably fabricated at the clinic (Fab@Clinic), under $25.00 each with the help of a low-cost desktop 3D printer. Moreover, the clinical blood flow and pulsation pressure similar to the human can be well simulated, which can be used to train the neurosurgical residents how to clip aneurysms more effectively.
Highlights
Recent years have witnessed an increase in the amount of related studies, such as evaluation for the clipping position simulation of cerebral aneurysms based on 3D computed tomography (CT) angiography[21,22], application of 3D printing technology to generate cerebrovascular simulacra as cerebral arteries[23], and the adoption of functional anatomy of integrated sensory signals across the visual and tactile modalities mapping by positron emission tomography24. 3D printing technology has been soon accepted as a patient-specific fabrication method and a cost-effective way of producing 3D objects as well as a source of novel clinical and biomedical applications25–32. 3D models appear to be an ideal educational tool[33] that allows the simulation and practice of diverse basic and advanced surgical procedures such as ventriculostomies[34,35]
The cerebral aneurysm simulator consisting of a skull model, a brain model and a vascular model with blister-like dilation bulges was fabricated by a desktop 3D printer combined with silicone casting and coating techniques
The polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) model and xylitol coating could melt into water
Summary
We developed a cerebral aneurysm simulator using the low cost three-dimensional printer, silicone casting and coating techniques. The goal of this simulator is to deepen understand the dynamic bulging process of cerebral aneurysm and train neurosurgical residents how to clip aneurysms effectively. We successfully produced a skull, a silicone brain and a vascular model. A hollow elastic vascular silicone model as constituent part is a feature of the proposed simulator, allowing for blood flow. It is proven that the proposed vascular model can simulate the dynamic bulging process of cerebral aneurysm. The blister-like bulging regularity recreates the clinical blood flow and pulsation pressure similar to the human
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