Researchers 3D print lifelike heart valve models
Organ model could improve surgical outcomes for thousands of patients worldwide

Date:
August 28, 2020
Source:
University of Minnesota
Summary:
Researchers have developed a groundbreaking process for
multi-material 3D printing of lifelike models of the heart's
aortic valve and the surrounding structures that mimic the exact
look and feel of a real patient.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Researchers from the University of Minnesota, with support from Medtronic,
have developed a groundbreaking process for multi-material 3D printing
of lifelike models of the heart's aortic valve and the surrounding
structures that mimic the exact look and feel of a real patient.


========================================================================== These patient-specific organ models, which include 3D-printed soft sensor arrays integrated into the structure, are fabricated using specialized
inks and a customized 3D printing process. Such models can be used in preparation for minimally invasive procedures to improve outcomes in
thousands of patients worldwide.

The research is published in Science Advances, a peer-reviewed scientific journal published by the American Association for the Advancement of
Science (AAAS).

The researchers 3D printed what is called the aortic root, the section of
the aorta closest to and attached to the heart. The aortic root consists
of the aortic valve and the openings for the coronary arteries. The
aortic valve has three flaps, called leaflets, surrounded by a fibrous
ring. The model also included part of the left ventricle muscle and the ascending aorta.

"Our goal with these 3D-printed models is to reduce medical risks
and complications by providing patient-specific tools to help doctors understand the exact anatomical structure and mechanical properties of
the specific patient's heart," said Michael McAlpine, a University of
Minnesota mechanical engineering professor and senior researcher on the
study. "Physicians can test and try the valve implants before the actual procedure. The models can also help patients better understand their own anatomy and the procedure itself." This organ model was specifically
designed to help doctors prepare for a procedure called a Transcatheter
Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) in which a new valve is placed inside the patient's native aortic valve. The procedure is used to treat a condition called aortic stenosis that occurs when the heart's aortic valve narrows
and prevents the valve from opening fully, which reduces or blocks blood
flow from the heart into the main artery. Aortic stenosis is one of the
most common cardiovascular conditions in the elderly and affects about
2.7 million adults over the age of 75 in North America. The TAVR procedure
is less invasive than open heart surgery to repair the damaged valve.



==========================================================================
The aortic root models are made by using CT scans of the patient
to match the exact shape. They are then 3D printed using specialized silicone-based inks that mechanically match the feel of real heart tissue
the researchers obtained from the University of Minnesota's Visible Heart Laboratories. Commercial printers currently on the market can 3D print
the shape, but use inks that are often too rigid to match the softness
of real heart tissue.

On the flip side, the specialized 3D printers at the University of
Minnesota were able to mimic both the soft tissue components of the
model, as well as the hard calcification on the valve flaps by printing
an ink similar to spackling paste used in construction to repair drywall
and plaster.

Physicians can use the models to determine the size and placement of the
valve device during the procedure. Integrated sensors that are 3D printed within the model give physicians the electronic pressure feedback that
can be used to guide and optimize the selection and positioning of the
valve within the patient's anatomy.

But McAlpine doesn't see this as the end of the road for these 3D-printed models.

"As our 3D-printing techniques continue to improve and we discover
new ways to integrate electronics to mimic organ function, the models themselves may be used as artificial replacement organs," said McAlpine,
who holds the Kuhrmeyer Family Chair Professorship in the University of Minnesota Department of Mechanical Engineering. "Someday maybe these
'bionic' organs can be as good as or better than their biological counterparts." In addition to McAlpine, the team included University
of Minnesota researchers Ghazaleh Haghiashtiani, co-first author and a
recent mechanical engineering Ph.D. graduate who now works at Seagate;
Kaiyan Qiu, another co-first author and a former mechanical engineering postdoctoral researcher who is now an assistant professor at Washington
State University; Jorge D. Zhingre Sanchez, a former biomedical
engineering Ph.D. student who worked in the University of Minnesota's
Visible Heart Laboratories who is now a senior R&D engineer at Medtronic; Zachary J. Fuenning, a mechanical engineering graduate student; Paul
A. Iaizzo, a professor of surgery in the Medical School and founding
director of the U of M Visible Heart Laboratories; Priya Nair, senior
scientist at Medtronic; and Sarah E. Ahlberg, director of research &
technology at Medtronic.

This research was funded by Medtronic, the National Institute of
Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering of the National Institutes of
Health, and the Minnesota Discovery, Research, and InnoVation Economy
(MnDRIVE) Initiative through the State of Minnesota. Additional support
was provided by University of Minnesota Interdisciplinary Doctoral
Fellowship and Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship awarded to Ghazaleh Haghiashtiani.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Minnesota. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Related Multimedia:
* YouTube_video:_3D_Printed_Aortic_Root_Model ========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Ghazaleh Haghiashtiani, Kaiyan Qiu, Jorge D. Zhingre Sanchez,
Zachary J.

Fuenning, Priya Nair, Sarah E. Ahlberg, Paul A. Iaizzo, Michael C.

McAlpine. 3D printed patient-specific aortic root models with
internal sensors for minimally invasive applications. Science
Advances, 2020; 6 (35): eabb4641 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abb4641 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200828144419.htm

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