Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) printing is widely used in medicine. Most research remains focused on forming rigid anatomical models, but moving from static models to dynamic functionality could greatly aid preoperative surgical planning. This work reviews literature on dynamic 3D heart models made of flexible materials for use with a mock circulatory system. Such models allow simulation of surgical procedures under mock physiological conditions, and are; therefore, potentially very useful to clinical practice. For example, anatomical models of mitral regurgitation could provide a better display of lesion area, while dynamic 3D models could further simulate in vitro hemodynamics. Dynamic 3D models could also be used in setting standards for certain parameters for function evaluation, such as flow reserve fraction in coronary heart disease. As a bridge between medical image and clinical aid, 3D printing is now gradually changing the traditional pattern of diagnosis and treatment.
Highlights
Three-dimensional (3D) printing is being increasingly applied to the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, especially in the diagnosis and treatment of structural heart disease [1,2,3]
Conventional, mostly rigid, 3D heart models are useful in displaying the cardiac structure
The hemodynamic assessment of prosthetic valves relies on 3D-printed cardiovascular models to reproduce the anatomical structure and a mock circulatory system to simulate the in vivo blood flow state
Summary
Three-dimensional (3D) printing is being increasingly applied to the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, especially in the diagnosis and treatment of structural heart disease [1,2,3]. Printing a functional valve model with flexible materials and placing it in a mock circulatory system to test velocity, pressure gradient, and other parameters can help understand the severity of valvular disease. The blood flow velocity, pressure gradient, and valve orifice area measured on the model were consistent with in vivo measurements This confirms the feasibility of using a 3D-printed functional aortic valve model combined with a simulated circulatory system to assess the severity of valve stenosis. Ultrasound images collected from the model were consistent with in vivo images, confirming the clinical value of 3D-printed heart valves in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases when coupled with mock circulatory devices. The hemodynamic assessment of prosthetic valves relies on 3D-printed cardiovascular models to reproduce the anatomical structure and a mock circulatory system to simulate the in vivo blood flow state.
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