An in vitro soft membranous model of individual human cerebral artery reproduced with visco-elastic behavior

An in vitro soft membranous model of individual human cerebral artery reproduced with visco-elastic behavior, for intravascular neurosurgical simulation, preclinical testing, and testing of medical devices, is presented. The presented arterial model is reproduced with soft visco-elastic tissues, existing around the cerebral artery, in addition to the elastic membranous structure of artery, and constructed based on individual information obtained with medical imaging modality. Its human-like constitution realizes surgical simulation accompanied with realistic feel and visco-elastic structural deformation under actual surgical environment. In this report, we present a production methodology for this anatomically accurate cerebral arterial model. With this methodology, arteries with complicated or high aspect structures are precisely reproducible. We also present a technique to improve its visibility against refraction and reflection that take place on surfaces around arterial model. As the presented arterial model is compatible with current major imaging modalities such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MR) and transcranial Doppler (TCD), it should be useful for a wide range of applications, such as hemodynamic study and radiological investigations, as well as surgical simulations.