Using 3d Printing Technology to Full-Scale Simulation of the Upper Respiratory Tract

Abstract

The project "Implementation of rapid prototyping for modelling the upper respiratory tract in normal and typical pathologies" investigates the urgent problem of improving the reliability of diagnosis and effectiveness of treatment of disorders of the nasal breathing. Possibilities of modern 3D-printing technology for creation of individual natural anatomical models of the upper respiratory tract and determination of their aerodynamic characteristics are considered. The characteristics of the laminar boundary layer of the air flow in the parietal region of the nasal cavity are investigated under different modes of breathing in normal and with typical disorders of the nasal breathing. The concept of investigation of the aerodynamic indices of the anatomical structures of the respiratory system by the results of test tests of individual full-scale 3D models, obtained by the data of spiral computed tomography, is being developed. Theoretical bases of the method of computer planning of restorative rhinosurgical interventions in patients with chronic diseases of the nasal cavity are grounded, based on the change of the configuration of the anatomical structures of the nasal cavity taking into account the aerodynamic parameters of respiration. Modern distance learning and testing tools are being created to demonstrate the technology developed, to provide theoretical knowledge, practical skills and to solve situational tasks for a wide range of specialists. Development and research of natural patterns of the upper respiratory tract allows for supplementing and expanding the knowledge about the aerodynamic characteristics of the nasal cavity, to make decisions about therapy in a short period of time. Experience of the Laboratory of the Institute for Multiphase Processes (IMP) of the Leibniz Universität Hannover (LUH) in the development and use of rapid prototyping capabilities in biotechnology will provide technical support to the project.

The possibility of rapid prototyping in the manufacture of 3-D models of cranial implants from CT-DATA

“…Triangulation and rendering of a polygonal model of the implant surface is performed. When this occurs, the determination of the geometric characteristics of the model and the correction of its shape taking into account the possibilities of fixing the implant 20 . At the fourth stage, the data are prepared for prototyping and the implant surface model is converted into the standard stereolithographic format stl.…”

“…Implant models are made of PLA-plastic, which does not allow to install them directly to close the defect in the skull. But such models allow a specialist at the planning stage of an operation to assess the amount of surgical intervention 14,15 , and also based on the model, it is possible to form parameters and create molds for the manufacture of an implant that directly reconstructs a bone defect.According to the results, specialized software was developed that allows building a geometric model of cranial implants with the maximum degree of automation, performing spatial visualization of the volume model of the implant and generating initial data to create the corresponding full-scale model 20 .…”

3D modelling and evaluation of parietal flow features in the nasal cavity

“…Where d h is the equivalent channel diameter determined by the formula (1); kthe equivalent absolute roughness of the inner surface of the canal, determined by analyzing the contours of the nasal cavity at the subpixel level and averaging about 0.05 mm 17 .…”

3-D modeling capabilities for planning rhinologic surgical interventions from CT-datasets

“…In the tasks of configuration planning of functional rhinosurgical operations, it is also advisable to perform full-scale visualization and modeling of dynamic changes in the geometric characteristics of the anatomical structures of the operating area [16][17][18][19][20] . In addition, full-scale models can be used to predict the functional result of the operation and pre-operative verification of decisions made using tests on special aerodynamic stands [21][22][23][24] .…”