Figure 3 | Scientific Reports

Figure 3

From: Low-cost prototyping of nitinol wires/frames using polymeric cores and sacrificial fixtures with application in individualized frames anchoring through the atrial septum

Figure 3

The demonstrations of the concept in this work: (a, b) inter-atrial septum (pink structure) are segmented. (c) PDMS cores are cast using 3D printed molds that follow the septum topology, (d) NiTi /Cu wires are wrapped that follow the topology on the PDMS cores, which can be heat treated and released (inset-top); another frame was fabricated by including tension during winding. (inset-bottom), e) plastic parts are directly 3D printed, (f) NiTi/Cu is wrapped with complex topologies, (g) complex topologies can be formed using typical wire bending using hand tools and without any cores, (h) NiTi frames are fabricated with the shape of an atrial defect occluder covered with hemocompatible films. The demonstrations suggest that the proposed technique can be integrated with a computerized wire bending that is ideal for a rapid prototyping platform.

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