3D Printed Aortic Valve Models for TAVI Planning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) planning lacks accurate pre-operative assessment due to reliance on standard clinical measurements, which may not account for patient-specific anatomical complexities, particularly calcium deposits, leading to challenges in selecting the appropriate implant device size and position.
Innovation Solution
An automated framework that extracts geometric models of the aortic valve, including calcium, from medical image data to create 3D printed models using different materials for soft tissue and calcified areas, allowing for hands-on planning and simulation of TAVI procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If standard clinical measurements and geometric models are used for TAVI planning, then the planning process is simple and fast, but the accuracy of pre-operative assessment is insufficient due to inability to account for patient-specific anatomical complexities and calcium deposits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates physical 3D printed copies of the patient's aortic valve anatomy based on CT/MRT data. These printed models replicate the actual geometric structure including calcium deposits, allowing clinicians to physically examine and measure the anatomy without complex digital reconstruction. The copy enables accurate assessment while keeping the planning process accessible to standard clinical workflows.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the anatomical data from digital 2D images to physical 3D printed objects with varying material properties. By printing calcium deposits with stiffer material than normal tissue, the model preserves important mechanical properties that affect device deployment, enabling more accurate pre-operative assessment without requiring complex computational analysis.
2Adaptability or versatility
If dozens of different implant devices and sizes are available for patient selection, then the versatility of treatment options is high, but the difficulty of selecting the appropriate device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The 3D printed model serves as a self-contained reference that allows clinicians to directly measure and compare different implant devices against the patient's actual anatomy. The physical model provides automatic geometric reference data, eliminating the need for complex digital measurements and calculations. Clinicians can manually test device fit and positioning by placing prototypes or models against the printed anatomy, making device selection intuitive despite the large number of options available.
3Reliability
If only geometric properties of the aortic valve are assessed for implant device selection, then the assessment process is simple, but the reliability of device selection is insufficient due to calcium deposits affecting device deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different material qualities to different regions of the printed model. Calcium deposits are printed with stiffer material while normal valve tissue uses softer material, accurately representing the local mechanical properties of each tissue type. This allows clinicians to assess how calcium deposits locally affect device deployment without requiring complex computational modeling of tissue mechanics throughout the entire valve structure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise preoperative planning by visualizing patient-specific anatomy, facilitating the selection of optimal implant devices and sizes, and assessing the impact of calcified lesions on device deployment, thereby improving procedural outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
creating a 3D printed model of the aortic valve and calcified lesions using a 3D printer
Implementation Method 2
The second material can have a stiffness that is greater than the first material. The first material can have a stiffness property equal to a standard value of a stiffness property of the heart valve tissue and the second material can have a stiffness property equal to a standard value of a stiffness property of calcified lesions.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and system for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) planning is disclosed. An anatomical surface model of the aortic valve is estimated from medical image data of a patient. Calcified lesions within the aortic valve are segmented in the medical image data. A combined volumetric model of the aortic valve and calcified lesions is generated. A 3D printed model of the heart valve and calcified lesions is created using a 3D printer. Different implant device types and sizes can be placed into the 3D printed model of the aortic valve and calcified lesions to select an implant device type and size for the patient for a TAVI procedure. The method can be similarly applied to other heart valves for any type of heart valve intervention planning.