Image Processing Methods for an Exact Reproduction of Unicque Waxed Heart Specimens

Precise knowledge of cardiac anatomy forms the basis for diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart disease. Only a few centers worldwide have access to specialized pathology collections of hearts with congenital malformations. Rare specimens cannot be replaced after loss or damage. To preserve, reproduce, and publish the unique specimens of the Cardiac Registry, Children’s Hospital Boston, for worldwide teaching and research purposes, we have developed the image processing methods described in this paper. The challenge is to preserve all relevant details unaltered in the reproduced models.