Engineered 3d lung airway tree

A method of producing a model of a human lung comprising steps of

• preparing a computer file within a computer aided design system utilizing steps of
• forming a trachea portion having a first end and a second end,
• forming a first bifurcation zone at the second end of the trachea portion, the first bifurcation zone having a first branch and a second branch,
• extending a first generation bronchi tube from the first branch of the first bifurcation zone, the first generation bronchi tube having a distal end,
• forming a subsequent bifurcation zone at the distal end of the first generation bronchi tube, which may be characterized as a prior generation bronchi tube, the subsequent bifurcation zone having a first branch and a second branch,
• extending a subsequent generation bronchi tube from the first branch of the subsequent bifurcation zone, which may be characterized as a prior bifurcation zone, the subsequent generation bronchi tube having a distal end,
• repeating the steps of
• forming a subsequent bifurcation zone at the distal end of the prior generation bronchi tube, the subsequent bifurcation zone having a first branch and a second branch, and
• extending a subsequent generation bronchi tube from the first branch of the prior bifurcation zone,
• until a predetermined number of generations of bronchi tubes have been formed,
• mathematically slicing the computer file into a plurality of layers to produce a sliced computer file,
• providing the sliced computer file to an additive manufacturing apparatus,
• fabricating, with the additive manufacturing apparatus, a 3D object based on the sliced computer file.