Three-Dimensional Hollow Elastic Models for Intracranial Aneurysm Clipping Election – A Case Study

Abstract

We describe a method for fabricating a three-dimensional hollow and elastic aneurysm model, which is useful for surgical clipping simulation. In this paper, we explain the generation of such hollow elastic model, based on 3D printing. Also, we report on the effects of applying it to presurgical clipping election and simulation. The advantages of this methodology are: (1) it generates a hollow and flexible 3D biomodel, represented as the vascular areas, apart from having together the skull, as a reference system; (2) it employs an inexpensive and easy to reproduce methodology; (3) it helps not only for training neurosurgeons, but also for planning and guiding the actual surgery clip's insertion.