3D-printed aortic root phantoms with varying calcium burden and free-margin incision reliably replicated calcific aortic stenosis hemodynamics, with compressive stiffness of 0.3-2 MPa.
A novel 3D-printed silicone-calcium aortic root phantom reliably replicates the hemodynamics and tissue stiffness of calcific aortic stenosis for in vitro testing.
PURPOSE: . Aortic root (AR) phantoms were developed to mimic the hemodynamic features of calcific AS. METHODS: A parametric AR geometry was reconstructed from computed tomography angiography of patients with AV stenosis. Phantoms were fabricated via silicone casting over 3D-printed molds, varying two parameters: calcium phosphate content (50 vs. 100 mg) and AV free-margin incision (50 vs. 100%). Phantoms were tested in a pulsatile mock loop to measure ΔP, regurgitation, and AVA. Unconfined compression tests were performed on cylindrical silicone-calcium specimens. RESULTS: . All configurations achieved complete diastolic coaptation. In a generalized linear mixed-effects model, both calcium burden and, more prominently, free-margin incision significantly influenced AS severity. Inter-phantom variability was negligible, and repeated measurements within the same phantom reported low residual variability. Compressive stiffness of the silicone-calcium composite (0.3-2 MPa) well aligned with ex vivo calcified leaflet tissue. CONCLUSION: The proposed modeling strategy and AR phantoms reliably replicate calcific AS hemodynamics. With further refinement and validation, this experimental framework could support fair and reproducible hemodynamic comparisons under controlled experimental conditions across the wide spectrum of AS phenotypes.
Curcio et al. (Thu,) conducted a other in Calcific aortic valve stenosis. 3D-printed aortic root phantoms was evaluated on Hemodynamic features (ΔP, regurgitation, and AVA) and compressive stiffness. 3D-printed aortic root phantoms with varying calcium burden and free-margin incision reliably replicated calcific aortic stenosis hemodynamics, with compressive stiffness of 0.3-2 MPa.