Using 3D Imaging and 3D Printing to Occlude a Cerebral Aneurysm
This invention is a method which uses 3D medical imaging to estimate the optimal amount of embolic material: to be inserted into a flexible net, mesh, bag, liner, or stent within a cerebral aneurysm sac in order to optimally occlude the aneurysm; or to be inserted directly into the sac in order to optimally occlude the aneurysm.
1 . A method to occlude a cerebral aneurysm comprising:
receiving a 3D image of a cerebral aneurysm; and
analyzing the 3D image to estimate an optimal amount of embolic material to be inserted into a flexible net, mesh, bag, liner, or stent within the aneurysm in order to occlude the aneurysm.
2 . The method in claim 1 wherein the 3D image of the cerebral aneurysm is created by a medical imaging method selected from the group consisting of: Computerized Tomography (CT), Computerized Tomography Angiography (CTA), Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT), Conoscopic Holography (CH), Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA), Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Maximum Intensity Projection (MIP), Medical Holographic Imaging (MHI), Micro Computerized Tomography (MCT), Positron Emission Tomography (PET), Tuned-Aperture Computed Tomography (TACT), and Ultrasound (U/S).
3 . The method in claim 1 wherein the optimal amount of embolic material is calculated by estimating the total interior volume of the aneurysm based on the 3D image of the aneurysm and then subtracting the volume of the perimeter layer of the flexible net, mesh, bag, liner, or stent.
4 . The method in claim 1 wherein estimation of the optimal amount of embolic material depends on one or more factors selected from the group consisting of: general aneurysm shape or type; aneurysm size; aneurysm location; aneurysm rupture status; type of embolic material; shape of embolic material; size of embolic material; softness and/or compressibility of embolic material; parent vessel shape; parent vessel location; patient demographic information; and patient medical history.
5 . The method in claim 1 wherein the embolic material comprises embolic coils or ribbons.
6 . The method in claim 1 wherein the embolic material comprises hydrogels or other gelatinous material.
7 . The method in claim 1 wherein the embolic material comprises a string-of-pearls structure (i.e. a plurality of embolic members connected by a string, filament, wire, or micro-chain).
8 . The method in claim 1 wherein a flow of liquid or gelatinous embolic material is pumped into the flexible net, mesh, bag, liner, or stent until the optimal amount of embolic material has been dispensed.
9 . The method in claim 1 wherein embolic members are delivered into the flexible net, mesh, bag, liner, or stent until the optimal amount of embolic members has been dispensed.
10 . A method to occlude a cerebral aneurysm comprising:
receiving a 3D image of a cerebral aneurysm; and
analyzing the 3D image to estimate an optimal amount of embolic material to be inserted into the aneurysm in order to occlude the aneurysm.
11 . The method in claim 10 wherein the 3D image of the cerebral aneurysm is created by a medical imaging method selected from the group consisting of: Computerized Tomography (CT), Computerized Tomography Angiography (CTA), Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT), Conoscopic Holography (CH), Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA), Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Maximum Intensity Projection (MIP), Medical Holographic Imaging (MHI), Micro Computerized Tomography (MCT), Positron Emission Tomography (PET), Tuned-Aperture Computed Tomography (TACT), and Ultrasound (U/S).
12 . The method in claim 10 wherein the optimal amount of embolic material is calculated by estimating the total interior volume of the aneurysm based on the 3D image of the aneurysm.
13 . The method in claim 10 wherein estimation of the optimal amount of embolic material depends on one or more factors selected from the group consisting of: general aneurysm shape or type; aneurysm size; aneurysm location; aneurysm rupture status; type of embolic material; shape of embolic material; size of embolic material; softness and/or compressibility of embolic material; parent vessel shape; parent vessel location; patient demographic information; and patient medical history.
14 . The method in claim 10 wherein the embolic material comprises embolic coils or ribbons.
15 . The method in claim 10 wherein the embolic material comprises hydrogels or other gelatinous material.
16 . The method in claim 10 wherein the embolic material comprises a string-of-pearls structure (i.e. a plurality of embolic members connected by a string, filament, wire, or micro-chain).
17 . The method in claim 10 wherein a flow of liquid or gelatinous embolic material is pumped into the cerebral aneurysm until the optimal amount of embolic material has been dispensed.
18 . The method in claim 10 wherein embolic members are delivered into the cerebral aneurysm until the optimal amount of embolic members has been dispensed.
19 . A method to create a device to occlude a cerebral aneurysm comprising:
receiving a 3D image of a cerebral aneurysm;
creating a 3D model or 3D mandrel based on the 3D image; and
wrapping, weaving, braiding, melting, shrinking, or otherwise conforming wires around the 3D model or 3D mandrel in order to create a custom-shaped convex flexible wire mesh which is configured to be inserted into the aneurysm.
20 . The method in claim 19 wherein embolic material is inserted into custom-shaped convex flexible wire mesh after the mesh has been inserted into the cerebral aneurysm.