Patent ID: 7993140

Claim:
A method of testing a device designed for invasive transmission through a luminal structure comprising: obtaining an artificial anatomic model configured to geometrically mimic a lumen possessing human or nonhuman animal anatomic structure, said model comprising a luminal structure having an inner luminal wall surface region comprising hydrogel, and an analog material employed by said artificial anatomic model designed to simulate at least one predetermined physical characteristic of a target tissue; wherein said artificial anatomical structure is configured to geometrically mimic vasculature, further comprising artificial support tissue; a luminal structure supported by said artificial support tissue, and comprising a first analog material disposed along an inner luminal wall surface of said luminal structure, said first material analog having a structural integrity simulating at least one predetermined characteristic of an inner surface of said vasculature; a liquid reservoir adapted to hold a liquid; and a pump in fluid communication with said luminal structure, said pump causing a pulsed or continuous liquid circulation, said pump circulating said liquid from said reservoir through said luminal structure; transmitting said device through said luminal structure such that said device bears on said region; and evaluating how said region is affected by transmission of said device through said luminal structure.