Simulation of the fluid dynamics in artificial aortic roots: comparison of two different types of prostheses.

As a consequence of the growing number of elderly people, the incidence of degenerative aortic diseases continues to increase. Often, artificial aortic roots are needed to replace the native tissue. Some physical characteristics of the artificial aortic root, however, are quite different from native aorta and need to be optimized.

Influence on fluid dynamics of coronary artery outlet angle variation in artificial aortic root prosthesis.

Background: Because of higher life expectancy, the number of elderly patients today with degenerative aortic diseases is on the increase. Often artificial aortic roots are needed to replace the native tissue. This surgical procedure requires re-implantation of the previous separated coronary arteries into the wall of the prosthesis.

Neurodevelopmental outcome in extremely low birth weight infants: what is the minimum age for reliable developmental prognosis?

Aim: We present a longitudinal study on the neurodevelopmental outcome in preterm infants with extremely low birth weight <1000 g (ELBW) to answer the question at which age a developmental prognosis can be given.

Methods: A group of 129 ELBW, median birth weight: 794 g (SD 123 g), gestational age: 27.0 weeks (SD 2.

Utilizing FEM-Software to quantify pre- and post-interventional cardiac reconstruction data based on modelling data sets from surgical ventricular repair therapy (SVRT) and cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT).

Background: Left ventricle (LV) 3D structural data can be easily obtained using standard transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) devices but quantitative pre- and intraoperative volumetry and geometry analysis of the LV is presently not feasible in the cardiac operation room (OR). Finite element method (FEM) modelling is necessary to carry out precise and individual volume analysis and in the future will form the basis for simulation of cardiac interventions.

Method: A Philips/HP Sonos 5500 ultrasound device stores volume data as time-resolved 4D volume data sets.

Finite-element-method (FEM) model generation of time-resolved 3D echocardiographic geometry data for mitral-valve volumetry.

Introduction: Mitral Valve (MV) 3D structural data can be easily obtained using standard transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) devices but quantitative pre- and intraoperative volume analysis of the MV is presently not feasible in the cardiac operation room (OR). Finite element method (FEM) modelling is necessary to carry out precise and individual volume analysis and in the future will form the basis for simulation of cardiac interventions.

Method: With the present retrospective pilot study we describe a method to transfer MV geometric data to 3D Slicer 2 software, an open-source medical visualization and analysis software package.

Rigid overlay of volume sonography and MR image data of the female pelvic floor using a fiducial based alignment--feasibility due to a case series.

The visual combination of different medical image acquisition techniques (modalities) can lead to new modalities with enhanced informative content. In this paper, we present an overlay technique of magnetic resonance (MR) and 3D US image data sets of the female anal canal (internal and external sphincter) as a base for a new diagnostic modality. It is a new field of the application of the overlay technique.

Non-rigid registration of a 3D ultrasound and a MR image data set of the female pelvic floor using a biomechanical model.

Background: The visual combination of different modalities is essential for many medical imaging applications in the field of Computer-Assisted medical Diagnosis (CAD) to enhance the clinical information content. Clinically, incontinence is a diagnosis with high clinical prevalence and morbidity rate. The search for a method to identify risk patients and to control the success of operations is still a challenging task.

A finite element method model to simulate laser interstitial thermo therapy in anatomical inhomogeneous regions.

Background: Laser Interstitial ThermoTherapy (LITT) is a well established surgical method. The use of LITT is so far limited to homogeneous tissues, e.g.

Feasibility of rapid and automated importation of 3D echocardiographic left ventricular (LV) geometry into a finite element (FEM) analysis model.

Background: Finite element method (FEM) analysis for intraoperative modeling of the left ventricle (LV) is presently not possible. Since 3D structural data of the LV is now obtainable using standard transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) devices intraoperatively, the present study describes a method to transfer this data into a commercially available FEM analysis system: ABAQUS.

Methods: In this prospective study TomTec LV Analysis TEE Software was used for semi-automatic endocardial border detection, reconstruction, and volume-rendering of the clinical 3D echocardiographic data.