Jamie Barrand | Oct 13, 2015

With newest technology, aortic aneurysms can be treated through virtual reality

Dr. Gilles Soulez of the University of Montreal Hospital Research Center presented Sept. 27 on the latest advances in angiography virtual models at the Interventional Radiology Society of Europe (CIRSE) Conference.

For 25 years, Soulez has been involved in the development of medical imaging technologies.

"Remarkable advances in imagery have improved surgery and helped to develop less invasive interventions," Soulez told Patient Daily. "But the images are still far from being perfect. We want to develop new software to maximize the use of images generated with current ultrasound, scanning, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technologies to ultimately provide more personalized treatments."

With scanner images, Soulez's research provides three-dimensional images of all components of the aneurysm.

"The grid is used to establish growth profiles of the aneurysm," he said. "We are now working to create simulations to better predict the risk of rupture, adding biomechanical properties such as tissue elasticity and connectivity at each pixel of the grid."

Soulez said it is important to develop technology that can determine the risk of an aneurysm rupture, because "If you have a ruptured aneurysm, you have a one in two chance of dying." 

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