Physical models of the foetus created using magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and ultrasound data: history, description, and potential uses

Werner, Heron; Santos, Jorge Lopes Dos; Júnior, Edward Araujo

doi:10.1590/so100-720320150005250

Cited by 7 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Werner et al (10) introduced the use of physical models in fetal disease research, an area in which studies involving digital (3D) modeling are scarce (11,14) . The results suggest a new possibility in the interaction between the parents and the fetus during prenatal monitoring, physically recreating the interior of the uterus during pregnancy, demonstrating the actual size of the fetus, as well as its anatomy.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Applicability of three-dimensional imaging techniques in fetal medicine

Werner¹,

Santos

Belmonte

et al. 2016

Radiol Bras

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ObjectiveTo generate physical models of fetuses from images obtained with three-dimensional ultrasound (3D-US), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and, occasionally, computed tomography (CT), in order to guide additive manufacturing technology.Materials and MethodsWe used 3D-US images of 31 pregnant women, including 5 who were carrying twins. If abnormalities were detected by 3D-US, both MRI and in some cases CT scans were then immediately performed. The images were then exported to a workstation in DICOM format. A single observer performed slice-by-slice manual segmentation using a digital high resolution screen. Virtual 3D models were obtained from software that converts medical images into numerical models. Those models were then generated in physical form through the use of additive manufacturing techniques.ResultsPhysical models based upon 3D-US, MRI, and CT images were successfully generated. The postnatal appearance of either the aborted fetus or the neonate closely resembled the physical models, particularly in cases of malformations.ConclusionThe combined use of 3D-US, MRI, and CT could help improve our understanding of fetal anatomy. These three screening modalities can be used for educational purposes and as tools to enable parents to visualize their unborn baby. The images can be segmented and then applied, separately or jointly, in order to construct virtual and physical 3D models.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The can also be used in fetal medicine for educational purposes (11,14,17,18) . The act of combining images obtained by different methods (ultrasound and MRI) can result in better understanding, on the part of the parents and of a multidisciplinary medical team, in evaluating certain types of diseases (11,14) .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Applicability of three-dimensional imaging techniques in fetal medicine

Werner¹,

Santos

Belmonte

et al. 2016

Radiol Bras

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“…In recent years there have been improvements in 3D printing, increased availability, lower costs, and development of biomaterials that have seen the rise in its use in a wide range of healthcare applications [43]. Due to the availability of 3D datasets in radiology, this field has become a primary adopter of the technology, and applications relating to fetal diagnosis and screening have been an emerging area of exploration in recent years [44][45][46][47]. The advantages of 3D printing for prenatal craniofacial assessment primarily are for clinician education, parental counselling and education, diagnosis [48] and surgical planning.…”

Section: D Printing For Fetal Imagingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Craniofacial phenotyping with fetal MRI: a feasibility study of 3D visualisation, segmentation, surface-rendered and physical models

Matthew,

Uus,

De Souza

et al. 2024

BMC Med Imaging

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This study explores the potential of 3D Slice-to-Volume Registration (SVR) motion-corrected fetal MRI for craniofacial assessment, traditionally used only for fetal brain analysis. In addition, we present the first description of an automated pipeline based on 3D Attention UNet trained for 3D fetal MRI craniofacial segmentation, followed by surface refinement. Results of 3D printing of selected models are also presented.Qualitative analysis of multiplanar volumes, based on the SVR output and surface segmentations outputs, were assessed with computer and printed models, using standardised protocols that we developed for evaluating image quality and visibility of diagnostic craniofacial features. A test set of 25, postnatally confirmed, Trisomy 21 fetal cases (24–36 weeks gestational age), revealed that 3D reconstructed T2 SVR images provided 66–100% visibility of relevant craniofacial and head structures in the SVR output, and 20–100% and 60–90% anatomical visibility was seen for the baseline and refined 3D computer surface model outputs respectively. Furthermore, 12 of 25 cases, 48%, of refined surface models demonstrated good or excellent overall quality with a further 9 cases, 36%, demonstrating moderate quality to include facial, scalp and external ears. Additional 3D printing of 12 physical real-size models (20–36 weeks gestational age) revealed good/excellent overall quality in all cases and distinguishable features between healthy control cases and cases with confirmed anomalies, with only minor manual adjustments required before 3D printing.Despite varying image quality and data heterogeneity, 3D T2w SVR reconstructions and models provided sufficient resolution for the subjective characterisation of subtle craniofacial features. We also contributed a publicly accessible online 3D T2w MRI atlas of the fetal head, validated for accurate representation of normal fetal anatomy.Future research will focus on quantitative analysis, optimizing the pipeline, and exploring diagnostic, counselling, and educational applications in fetal craniofacial assessment.

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“…3D postprocessing technology is a recent development that may be added to conventional imaging to improve accuracy of prenatal diagnosis. Rapid physical prototyping may be performed using scanning measurement data obtained from 3D ultrasound volumes, computed tomography or MRI. This advanced digital application has been used to study normal anatomy and to display multiple fetal malformations, such as Chiari II malformation.…”

Section: Neonatal Characteristics Of Monochorionic Diamniotic Quadrupmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monochorionic diamniotic quadruplet pregnancy: physical models from prenatal three‐dimensional ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging data

Werner

Castro

Daltro

et al. 2017

Ultrasound in Obstet & Gyne

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Monozygotic (MZ) twins are relatively rare, with an incidence worldwide of about 0.40-0.45% after non-stimulated in-vivo conception 1 . The rate of MZ twinning after assisted reproductive technology (ART) is estimated to be between two and 12 times higher than for natural conception 2 . Higher-order multiple pregnancies carry significantly increased risks of fetal morbidity and mortality compared with the baseline risks of a twin pregnancy. Additional risks are also associated with monochorionicity. Simultaneous division of two transferred embryos in ART is a rare event (< 0.16% of all pregnancies) and only a few cases have been reported in the literature 3 . Several reports refer to higher-order multiple pregnancies as a result of the increasing use of ART in recent years, including quadruplet pregnancies 4 . However, embryo reduction is performed in most cases and good outcomes in higher-order multiple pregnancies from ART are scarcely reported. We present here a case of successful pregnancy after simultaneous division of two transferred embryos, resulting in two sets of monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies. Three-dimensional (3D) virtual and physical models of the pregnancy were created using prenatal ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data.A 32-year-old Caucasian woman with an unremarkable medical history, who failed to conceive after 3 years of trying, was diagnosed with bilateral endometrioma, peritoneal endometriosis and right tubal dilatation on MRI. The couple was offered ART. In the first cycle of in-vitro fertilization (IVF), eight oocytes were collected. This first attempt was unsuccessful and embryo transfer resulted in miscarriage after 4 weeks. A new attempt at IVF was made 6 months after the first cycle. Eight oocytes were obtained and fertilized, resulting in three embryos. Two blastocysts were transferred. Beta-human chorionic gonadotropin was 1612 IU 13 days after transfer. Transvaginal ultrasound examination at 6 weeks showed two intrauterine sacs, each containing two embryos. The couple was informed on the maternal and fetal risks of a quadruplet pregnancy and counseled on the possibility of fetal reduction, which was declined. During first-trimester ultrasound examination, anatomy of all four fetuses was apparently normal ( Figure S1 and Videoclips S1-S3). Cervical cerclage was performed at 16 weeks for the prevention of preterm delivery and vaginal progesterone was prescribed at 24 weeks. MRI was performed at 26 weeks (Figure 1a and Videoclip S4) due to difficulty in evaluating complete fetal anatomy with ultrasound, and 3D virtual and physical models were constructed using the data (Figure 1b-d and Videoclips S5 and S6). Cesarean section was performed at 32 weeks due to uterine contractions and dyspnea, delivering four male babies (Table 1). Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min were 9 or 10 in all neonates. Two neonates were discharged from the hospital 34 days after delivery and the other two at 36 days after delivery ( Figure S2). MZ twinning following IVF was first reported in ...

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Physical models of the foetus created using magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and ultrasound data: history, description, and potential uses

Cited by 7 publications

References 8 publications

Applicability of three-dimensional imaging techniques in fetal medicine

Applicability of three-dimensional imaging techniques in fetal medicine

Craniofacial phenotyping with fetal MRI: a feasibility study of 3D visualisation, segmentation, surface-rendered and physical models

Monochorionic diamniotic quadruplet pregnancy: physical models from prenatal three‐dimensional ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging data

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