Patient-Specific Vascular Modeling - Microsurgery: Advances, Simulations, and Applications - page 77

3.2.2 Reproduction of Physical Characteristics

Two-dimensional monochromatic digital subtraction angiography
(DSA) image and the subtle feel of operating medical instruments
are the only information that interventionists commonly utilize in
neurovascular procedures. Therefore, the operational feel plays an
important role in treating cerebrovascular diseases safely without
applying excessive piercing stress on the vessel structure. Hence,
to reproduce the physical characteristics of vasculature, such as its
elasticity and surface friction, becomes an essential requirement
for a vasculature model for simulating neurovascular procedures,
since the feel of operating medical instrument is never reproducible
without the reproduction of physical characteristics. Moreover, with
the reproduction of physical characteristics, dynamic behaviors
of medical instruments, such as slip/stick motion and unwinding
motion of micro-catheter, are also reproducible. Consequently the
dificulties of manipulating medical instruments in neurovascular
procedures could be reproduced on simulator in this way. Meanwhile,
it is also important for a vasculature model to be compatible with
medical imaging modalities (especially DSA), to allow simulating
neurovascular procedures under practical IVR (interventional
radiology) condition.

Figure 3.3 Coniguration of actual cerebral artery and its locating
condition inside the subarachnoid space.