Figure 1
(a) Schematic of the MRI-compatible flow circuit setup. The pump unit was positioned at the end of the patient bed; the fluid reservoir was positioned on the patient bed and inside the MRI bore. The pump controller provided a pulse for triggering both image acquisition and DAQ signals. Ultrasonic flow transducers and pressure transducers (dotted lines) were disconnected after tuning and prior to moving the setup to the MRI iso-center. (b) Photograph of the model-specific gel block with embedded aorta model and ports (blue) at inlet and outlet to insert pressure transducers. (c–e) 3D spoiled-gradient echo MRI image data for three reformatted planes (XY, XZ, YZ) depicting the aorta model embedded into the gel. (f) Model construction showing lumen mesh (cyan) and extruded wall mesh (gray). (g) Final print-ready aortic wall model with defined cross-sectional landmarks, full centerline (black), and descending aorta centerline (blue) that was used for PWV analysis. The original model was extended with cylindrical caps (length = 2 cm) at the inlet and all outlets to accommodate connection to customized barbed connectors that then connect to tubing. (h) Photographs of a finished 3D-printed model. Graphics created using Inkscape (v0.92, https://inkscape.org/), SimVascular (release 2020–04, https://simvascular.github.io/), and Meshmixer (v3.5, https://www.meshmixer.com/).
