Patient-Tailored Cerebral Arterial Model for Simulating Neurovascular Intervention (1st Report, In Vitro Reproduction of Vasculature Structure with Biomechanics)

Abstract

In this paper, we propose an in vitro patient-tailored anatomical model of human cerebral artery, a hardware platform for simulating intravascular neurosurgery for making diagnosis and surgical trainings. Proposed vessel model hollowly reproduces 3-dimensional configuration of vessel lumens within an elastic transparent silicone cube, using fluoroscopic information which is obtained with CT (Computed Tomography), MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and other imaging modalities. It also reproduces the physical characteristics of artery tissue, such as elastic modulus, Poisson's ratio and friction coefficient, within respectively 10% of errors. Consequently, it allows simulating neurovascular procedures, which is accompanied by the realistic feel of operating catheters, and the realistic behavior of surgical instruments (e. g. slip/stick motion and unwinding motion). Presented vasculature model should provide an innovative platform for interventionalists to make preliminary surgical simulation, for young trainees to practice intervention procedures and for developers to evaluate surgical robots, device and other various medical instruments.