A collaborative project between the Herston Biofabrication Institute (HBI) and Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (RBWH) has been recognised with an award for its innovative contribution to pre-operative planning and rehearsal of complex endovascular procedures.
The award acknowledges the development of a patient-matched vascular simulation platform that allows surgeons to practise procedures in a realistic, patient-specific environment before entering the operating theatre.
Using 3D printing and advanced manufacturing techniques, the project team developed highly realistic aortic models derived from patient imaging data. These models replicate key clinical conditions experienced during surgery, including blood flow dynamics, pressure, and fluoroscopic imaging environments.
The platform enables surgeons to rehearse complex endovascular procedures in advance, supporting safer, more confident decision-making and improved procedural preparedness for challenging vascular cases.
Designed With Clinical Workflows in Mind
The simulation platform was developed through close collaboration between researchers, clinicians, designers, and imaging specialists, ensuring it aligned with real-world surgical workflows and clinical requirements.
By integrating engineering, imaging, and clinical expertise, the team created a tool that not only supports pre-operative planning but also shows promise for surgical training and education.
A Collaborative Achievement
This recognition highlights the value of strong partnerships between HBI and RBWH in translating research innovation into meaningful clinical impact.
The project brought together a multidisciplinary team with contributions including:
Dr Nicolas Soro (Senior Research Officer, HBI), who coordinated the project and integrated engineering, imaging, and clinical workflows to progress the platform toward clinical use.
Dr Lucy Guazzo (Vascular Surgeon, RBWH), who provided clinical leadership, defined surgical requirements, and led deployment simulation activities to validate the platform.
Dr Samantha Peden (Vascular Surgeon, RBWH), who contributed clinical insight and supported evaluation of the platform's relevance for surgical planning and training.
Dr Jason Jenkins (Head of Department / Vascular Surgeon, RBWH), who provided clinical feedback on usability and realism to refine the models for complex cases.
Liam Georgeson (Industrial Designer, HBI), who led the design and fabrication of patient-specific models and their integration with a pulsatile flow system.
Harry Huntress (Radiographer, Queensland Health), who ensured compatibility with fluoroscopic imaging and supported validation within clinical imaging workflows.
Translating Innovation into Impact
The award recognises not only the technical innovation of the simulation platform, but also its potential to enhance patient outcomes through improved surgical preparation. It demonstrates how research and advanced manufacturing capabilities at HBI can be successfully translated into real-world clinical tools at RBWH.