Intraaneurysmal flow changes affected by clip location and occlusion magnitude in a lateral aneurysm model

In order to study the flow dynamic changes inside an aneurysm sac due to the partial occlusion of the aneurysm neck, velocity fields were measured using a particle image velocitimeter (PIV) in in vitro aneurysm models under the physiological flow waveform. Lateral aneurysm models arising from the curved parent vessel with different occlusion ratios and sites-e.g. no clip, 50% proximal and distal clip, and 75% proximal and distal clip-were tested. Reduced inflow and intraaneurysmal velocities may provide a better hemodynamic environment for aneurysm embolization. Comparing inflow rates and averaged intraaneurysmal velocities in the proximal and the distal clip model, they were lower in the distal clip model in cases of 50% neck occlusion, but they were lower in the proximal clip model in cases of 75% occlusion. These results suggest that clipping sites for reduced inflow and intraaneurysmal flow velocities may differ for different residual neck sizes. Less effective inflow blocking in the 75% distally clipped model may be due to the curvature of the parent artery. Therefore, not only the residual neck size and clipping site but the geometry of parent vessel significantly affect the flow fields inside the aneurysm, and subsequently the success of the aneurysm treatment.     

Quantitative Effects of Coil Packing Density on Cerebral Aneurysm Fluid Dynamics: An <Emphasis Type="Italic">In Vitro</Emphasis> Steady Flow Study

Over the past 15 years, coil embolization has emerged as an effective treatment option for cerebral aneurysms that is far less invasive than the long-standing convention of surgical clipping. However, aneurysm recurrence after coil embolization is not uncommon: recurrence rates as high as 50% have been reported in the literature. One factor that may contribute to recurrence after coiling is residual flow into the aneurysmal sac. At present, there is limited quantitative knowledge of the relationship between coil packing density and aneurysmal inflow. We present an in vitro fluid dynamic study of basilar tip aneurysm models that elucidates this relationship. At physiologically normal flow rates, we found that a packing density of 28.4% decreased aneurysmal inflow by 31.6% in a wide-neck model, and that a packing density of 36.5% decreased aneurysmal inflow by 49.6% in a narrow-neck model. Results also indicated that coiling reduced aneurysmal inflow more significantly at lower parent vessel flow rates, and that coiling reduced neck-plane velocity magnitudes more significantly for narrow-neck aneurysms. Our study provides novel quantitative information that could ultimately contribute to improved outcomes for patients with cerebral aneurysms by enabling more effective coil embolization.     

Hemodynamic effect of Neuroform stent on intimal hyperplasia and thrombus formation in a carotid aneurysm

Stents play an important role in management of cerebral aneurysms. A stent reconstructs the parent artery, assists coil embolization, and decreases flow activity within an aneurysm. However, an in-stent stenosis often occurs within the stented artery and compromises the circulation at the parent artery. Hemodynamic basis of re-stenoses from aneurysm stenting is not fully understood. An 8mm cavernous carotid aneurysm with a wide neck was treated by a Neuroform stent first and by coils five weeks later. A comparison of the difference in morphology during this five-week period reveals the presence of intimal hyperplasia in the internal carotid artery, 1.3mm thick at the proximal end and 1mm at the distal end of the stent, and 1mm thick thrombus at the postero-inferior side of the aneurysm. Computational fluid dynamic analyses show that the site of intimal hyperplasia is exposed to low wall shear with high oscillatory shear index (OSI), and the location of thrombus is subject to high OSI. Intimal hyperplasia and thrombus occur at comparable rates, but at different hemodynamic conditions; however, both prefer regions with high OSIs.     

Changes of flow characteristics by stenting in aneurysm models: influence of aneurysm geometry and stent porosity

An endovascular technique using a stent has been developed and successfully applied in the treatment of wide neck aneurysms. A stent can facilitate thrombosis in the aneurysm pouch while maintaining biocompatible passage of the parent artery. Insertion of the stent changes the flow characteristics inside the aneurysm pouch, which can affect the intra-aneurysmal embolization process. The purpose of this study is to clarify the velocity and wall shear stress changes that are caused by stenting in fusiform and lateral aneurysm models. We used a flow visualization technique that incorporated a photochromic dye in order to observe the flow fields and measure the wall shear rates. The intra-aneurysmal flow motion was significantly reduced in the stented aneurysm models. Coherent inflow along the distal wall of the aneurysm was diminished and inflow was distributed along the pores of the stent wall in the stented models. Also, sluggish intra-aneurysmal vortex motion was well maintained in the stented aneurysm models during the deceleration phase. A less porous stent generally reduced the intraneurysmal fluid motion further, but the porosity effect was not significant. The magnitude and pulsatility of the wall shear rate were reduced by stenting, and the reductions were more significant in the lateral aneurysm models compared to the fusiform aneurysm models. The hemodynamic changes that were observed in our study can help explain the efficacy of in vivo thrombus formation caused by stenting. © 2002 Biomedical Engineering Society. PAC2002: 8719Uv, 8780-y, 8719Xx     

Effects of framing coil shape, orientation, and thickness on intra-aneurysmal flow

To study the effects of the geometrical characteristics of a framing coil on aneurysm thromboembolization efficacy, the hemodynamics in lateral aneurysms filled with coils having a different shape, orientation, and thickness were analyzed using computational fluid dynamics. The aneurysms packed with vortex and cage-shaped coils were modeled using three different coil orientations: transverse, parallel, and orthogonal. The orthogonal orientation of a vortex coil and parallel orientation of a cage-shaped coil showed higher inflow, vorticity, and wall shear stress in the dome region, which provide an unfavorable hemodynamic environment for thromboembolization. Thicker coils also produced unfavorable hemodynamic conditions compared to normal coils having the same shape, orientation, and total coil volume. Though the effects of coil shape and orientation on the hemodynamic parameters of interest were not consistent, the open area at the distal half of the mid-transverse plane of an aneurysm showed significant positive correlation with flow into the dome region and mean vorticity in the dome region. Therefore, blocking the distal mid-transverse plane of an aneurysm using coils would effectively reduce the intra-aneurysmal flow activity and provide a more efficient hemodynamic environment for thromboembolization.     

分支血管直径对颅内动脉瘤置入血流导向装置后血流动力学参数的影响

目的综合考虑血流导向装置(flow diverter,FD)置入对动脉瘤瘤体及分支血管的影响,为临床制定更加合理的FD栓塞颅内动脉瘤手术策略提供参考。方法基于计算流体动力学(computational fluid dynamics,CFD)方法,创新应用多孔介质模型模拟FD栓塞颅内分叉动脉瘤的过程。分析和比较不同分支血管直径条件下FD置入动脉瘤前后瘤体与分支血管血液流场、血流速度、壁面压力、壁面剪切力(wall shear stress,WSS)等血流动力学参数的变化。结果 FD置入改变动脉瘤内的血流动力学特征,血流速度减小,动脉瘤壁尤其是顶部压力减小,瘤颈口WSS增大,但瘤颈远侧端与近侧端WSS的差异减小。且不同分支血管直径对血流动力学特征改变的影响程度不同,直径越大,FD置入后流入分支血管内血流的减少量越大,但瘤体内血液流速与瘤顶压力的减少量越小,同时瘤颈部WSS增加量越小。结论分支血管直径越大,FD对动脉瘤的栓塞治疗效果与对血管粥样硬化的改善作用越差,越易造成分支闭塞或其他缺血性并发症的发生。此类情况下进行FD介入栓塞术尤其需要引起临床医师注意。     

Hemodynamics altered by placing helix stents in an aneurysm at a 45 degrees angle to the curved vessel

Flow visualization, particle image velocimetry and numerical computation have been complementarily performed to study the fluid flow inside a stented lateral aneurysm. The curved afferent vessel had an inner diameter of 5 mm. The diameters of the aneurysmal orifice, neck and fundus were 7 mm, 5 mm and 7.5 mm, respectively, and the distance between the orifice and dome measured 10 mm. Stents with various porosities were examined. A volume-flow rate waveform of the internal carotid artery was reconstructed with a Wormersley number of 4 and Reynolds number ranging from 202 to 384 in a cardiac cycle. Results are presented in terms of the main and secondary flow velocity vector fields, the inflow rates into the aneurysm and the intra-aneurysmal wall shear stress and pressure. Some comparisons of the computed results with the experimental results and the data available from the literature are also made. It is found that the placement of stents for endovascular treatment is more critical for an unstented parent vessel with curvature than without since the maximum inflow rate of the former is 15 times the latter. The critical porosity of 70% below which an inhibition of intra-aneurysmal thrombus formation will not occur is identified for the first time.     

A steady flow analysis on the stented and non-stented sidewall aneurysm models.

As part of a general investigation on the effects of blood flow patterns in sidewall aneurysm, in vitro steady flow studies on rigid aneurysm models have been conducted using Particle Image Velocimetry over a range of Reynolds number from 200 to 1600. Above Reynolds number 700, one large recirculating vortex would be formed, occupying the entire aneurysmal pouch. The centre of the vortex is located at region near to the distal neck. A pair of counter rotating vortices would however be formed at Reynolds numbers below 700. For all the aneurysm models considered, the vortex strength, in general, is stronger at higher Reynolds numbers but lower at larger aneurysm size. Maximum strength of the vortex is about 15% of the bulk mean velocity in the upstream parent tube. Estimates of the wall shear stresses are derived from the near wall velocity measurements. Highest level of wall shear stresses always appears at the distal neck of the aneurysmal pouch. Stents and springs of different porosity have been used to dampen the flow movement inside the aneurysm so as to induce the possible formation of thrombosis. It is found that the flow movement inside the aneurysmal pouch can be suppressed to less than 5% of the bulk mean velocity by both devices. Furthermore, regions of high wall shear stresses at the distal neck could also be suppressed by almost 90%. The present results would be useful for further improvements in stent (or spring) technology.     

Hemodynamics of small aneurysm pairs at the internal carotid artery

Cerebral aneurysms carry significant risks because rupture-related subarachnoid hemorrhage leads to serious and often fatal consequences. The rupture risk increases considerably for multiple aneurysms. Multiple aneurysms can grow from the same location of an artery, and the interaction between these aneurysms raises the rupture risk even higher. Four aneurysm pair cases at the internal carotid artery are investigated for their hemodynamic behaviors using patient-specific modeling. For each case, aneurysms are separated from the parent artery and three models are reconstructed, one with two aneurysms and the other two models with only one of the two aneurysms. Results show that the relative anatomic location of one aneurysm to the other may determine the hemodynamic environment of an aneurysm. The presence of a proximal aneurysm reduces the intra-aneurysmal flow into the distal aneurysm; the proximal aneurysm and larger aneurysm have a greater area under low wall shear stress. The average intra-aneurysmal inflow ratio ranges from 16% to 41%, and reduction of the inflow ratio by an aneurysm pair varies from 6% to 15%. The maximum wall shear stress increases for serial aneurysms, but decreases for parallel aneurysms. Interaction between parallel aneurysms is not significant; however, the proximal aneurysm in serial aneurysms may be subject to a greater rupture risk.     

颅内动脉瘤径颈比对瘤体与分支血管血流动力学影响的数值模拟研究

动脉瘤的血流动力学是影响其生长与破裂的重要因素,尤其是形态学参数径颈比(aspect ratio,AR,瘤体长径/瘤颈宽度)对其血流动力学影响较大。本研究使用基于计算流体力学(computational fluid dynamics,CFD)技术的ANSYS 16.0软件包,数值仿真分析了不同径颈比对颅内动脉瘤瘤体与分支血管血流动力学的影响,为临床上制定合理的形态学与血流动力学指标来筛选高危的动脉瘤患者,并进行积极的干预治疗提供一定的理论依据。通过使用空间直角坐标系建立径颈比为3.33、2.5、2、1.67、1.43、1.25的理想颅内动脉瘤几何模型,分析和比较了包括血液流场与涡量分布、流速与流量、壁面压力、壁面切应力(wall shear stress,WSS)、瘤颈近远侧端与分支血管剪切应变率(shear strain rate,SSR)在内的血流动力学参数。数值模拟结果给出了动脉瘤与分支血管内的流线图、涡核图、压力分布云图、WSS分布云图以及随X轴变化的流速与压力峰值分布曲线。分析得出,径颈比决定瘤内血流模式,径颈比减小,瘤顶的流速与SSR增大,瘤壁上的压力与WSS增大,分支血管壁上的压力增大,且WSS/SSR瘤颈远侧端>WSS/SSR瘤颈近侧端>WSS/SSR分支血管中心,涡核区域由瘤体远侧壁增大至覆盖整个动脉瘤,但对分支血管内血流的阻碍作用减小。     

Blood flow dynamics in patient-specific cerebral aneurysm models: the relationship between wall shear stress and aneurysm area index

Hemodynamics plays an important role in the progression and rupture of cerebral aneurysms. The temporal and spatial variations in wall shear stress (WSS) within the aneurysmal sac are hypothesized to be correlated with the growth and rupture of the aneurysm. The current work describes the blood flow dynamics in 34 patient-specific models of saccular aneurysms located in the region of the anterior and posterior circulation of the circle of Willis. The models were obtained from three-dimensional rotational angiography image data and blood flow dynamics was studied under a physiologically representative waveform of inflow. The three-dimensional continuity and momentum equations for unsteady laminar flow were solved with commercial software using non-structured fine grid sizes. The vortex structure, the wall pressure, and the WSS showed large variations, depending on the morphology of the artery, size of the aneurysm, and form. A correlation existed between the mean WSS on the aneurysmal sac for lateral unruptured and ruptured aneurysms with an aneurysm surface index, which is defined as the ratio between the aneurysm area and the artery area at model inlet, respectively.     

水解脱弹簧圈填塞治疗急性期破裂颅内动脉瘤1例

背景：以往多采用电解脱弹簧圈填塞治疗颅内动脉瘤,但电解脱弹簧圈解脱时间较长,解脱区质地硬,并发症发生率较高,不利于微小动脉瘤的栓塞。 目的：观察水解脱弹簧圈填塞治疗急性期破裂颅内动脉瘤的效果。 方法：经头颅CT检查确认蛛网膜下腔出血并有脑叶出血1例,数字减影血管造影系统证实为颅内动脉瘤,采用水解脱弹簧圈栓塞动脉瘤。 结果与结论：经过治疗,患者破裂动脉瘤致密栓塞,填塞达99%,出血得到控制。提示水解脱弹簧圈的超柔软性及对瘤体壁的顺应性,操作方便,提高了动脉瘤的致密性栓塞的可能性,减少并发症的可能,应该为目前急性期颅内动脉瘤破裂较好的栓塞方法。     

Computational study for the effects of coil configuration on blood flow characteristics in coil-embolized cerebral aneurysm

Coil embolization of cerebral aneurysms with inhomogeneous coil distribution leads to an incomplete occlusion of the aneurysm. However, the effects of this factor on the blood flow characteristics are still not fully understood. This study investigates the effects of coil configuration on the blood flow characteristics in a coil-embolized aneurysm using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation. The blood flow analysis in the aneurysm with coil embolization was performed using a coil deployment (CD) model, in which the coil configuration was constructed using a physics-based simulation of the CD. In the CFD results, total flow momentum and kinetic energy in the aneurysm gradually decayed with increasing coil packing density (PD), regardless of the coil configuration attributed to deployment conditions. However, the total shear rate in the aneurysm was relatively high and the strength of the local shear flow varied based on the differences in coil configuration, even at adequate PDs used in clinical practice (20–25 %). Because the sufficient shear rate reduction is a well-known factor in the blood clot formation occluding the aneurysm inside, the present study gives useful insight into the effects of coil configuration on the treatment efficiency of coil embolization.     

Histological analysis of clipped human intracranial aneurysms and parent arteries with short-term follow-up

BackgroundSurgical clipping of intracranial aneurysms is the gold standard for the prevention of rupture. However, the biological processes that occur following clipping are poorly understood. To better understand these effects, retrieved and clipped human intracranial aneurysms were examined histologically.MethodsAt autopsy, 17 aneurysms from 10 patients were retrieved 3–21 days after clipping. The tissues were embedded in paraffin, and microtome sections were stained using hematoxylin–eosin and Movat pentachrome. Using light microscopy, clip placement relative to the internal elastic lamina of the parent artery, endothelialization of the aneurysm neck, thrombus organization inside the aneurysm sac, inflammation in the sac, wall, and parent artery, and atherosclerotic changes were determined.ResultsDespite complete reconstruction of the artery with the clip, diseased vessel wall was frequently observed outside the clip. By 10 days postsurgery, the beginnings of endothelialization and neointima formation were observed at the neck. However, the neck coverage was variable and incomplete at these early time points. Thrombus organization inside the aneurysm sac was rarely observed, and inflammatory cells were not present inside the aneurysm sac. Inflammatory cells were commonly observed in the aneurysm wall, and atherosclerotic change was present in each sample.ConclusionsComplete aneurysm exclusion and apposition of healthy arterial wall occurred infrequently in our series. Endothelialization and neointima formation at the aneurysm neck take some time to complete and are often incomplete. The effectiveness of aneurysm clipping is related to the mechanics of aneurysm exclusion rather than the processes of endothelialization and neointima formation.SummaryComplete aneurysm exclusion and apposition of healthy arterial wall occurred infrequently in our series. Endothelialization and neointima formation at the aneurysm neck take some time to complete and are often incomplete. The effectiveness of aneurysm clipping is related to the mechanics of aneurysm exclusion rather than the processes of endothelialization and neointima formation.     

基于三维医学影像的脑动脉瘤内血液流动的数值模拟

目的 利用数值模拟研究具有病人特异性的脑动脉瘤内的血液流动,为脑动脉瘤的破裂风险的评价和动脉瘤介入栓塞后复发风险的评价提供帮助。方法 从两例脑动脉瘤病人的3D-RA数据中重建动脉瘤几何模型,血液流变学模型选择假塑性非牛顿流体模型,利用商用CFD软件Fluent对两例动脉瘤内的血液流动进行数值模拟。结果 数值模拟给出了动脉瘤内的流线图、重要截面上的速度分布图、壁面上的切应力分布和压力分布图。并且绘制了在收缩期时刻动脉瘤颈部和瘤顶部各20个点上的壁面切应力和压力的变化情况。结论 血流动力学因素如流速、压力、壁面切应力、流动对壁面的冲击状况等因素与动脉瘤的生长和破裂密切相关,而由于脑动脉瘤形态各异、载瘤动脉与动脉瘤体的几何关系复杂,所以具有病人特异性的数值模拟对于研究动脉瘤破裂和复发风险具有重要价值。动脉瘤颈部的壁面切应力和壁面切应力的波动的变化规律并不相同,需要进一步研究壁面切应力的波动与脑动脉瘤生长与破裂之间的定量关系。     

Prototype laser-activated shape memory polymer foam device for embolic treatment of aneurysms

Conventional embolization of cerebral aneurysms using detachable coils is time-consuming and often requires retreatment. These drawbacks have prompted the development of new methods of aneurysm occlusion. We present the fabrication and laser deployment of a shape memory (SMP) polymer expanding foam device. Data acquired in an in vitro basilar aneurysm model with and without flow showed successful treatment, with the flow rate affecting foam expansion and the temperature at the aneurysm wall.     

Post-Treatment Hemodynamics of a Basilar Aneurysm and Bifurcation

To investigate whether or not a successful aneurysm treatment procedure can subject a parent artery to harmful hemodynamic stresses, computational fluid dynamics simulations are performed on a patient-specific basilar aneurysm and bifurcation before and after a virtual endovascular treatment. Prior to treatment, the aneurysm at systole is filled with a periodic train of vortex tubes, which form at the aneurysm neck and advect upwards into the dome. Following the treatment procedure however, the motion of the vortex train is inhibited by the aneurysm filling material, which confines the vortex tubes to the region beneath the aneurysm neck. Analysis of the post-treatment flow field indicates that the impingement of the basilar artery flow upon the treated aneurysm neck and the close proximity of a vortex tube to the parent artery wall increase the maximum wall shear stresses to values approximately equal to 50 Pa at systole. Calculation of the time-averaged wall shear stresses indicates that there is a 1.4 × 10⁻⁷ m² area on the parent artery exposed to wall shear stresses greater than 37.9 Pa, a value shown by Fry [Circ. Res. 22(2):165–197, 1968] to cause severe damage to the endothelial cells that line the artery wall. The results of this study demonstrate that it is possible for a treatment procedure, which successfully isolates the aneurysm from the circulation and leaves no aneurysm neck remnant, to elevate the hemodynamic stresses to levels that are injurious to the artery wall.     

Influences of graft diameter on the blood flow in 2-way bypassing surgery

The graft diameter plays a critically important role in the long-term patency rates of bypass surgery. To clarify the influence of graft diameter on the blood flows in the femoral 2-way bypass surgery, the physiologically pulsatile flows in two femoral bypass models were simulated with numerical methods. For the sake of comparison, the models were constructed with identical geometry parameters except the different diameters of grafts. Two models with small and large grafts were studied. The boundary conditions for the simulation of blood flow were constant for both models. The maximum Reynolds number was 832.8, and the Womersley number was 6.14. The emphases of results were on the analysis of flow fields in the vicinity of the distal anastomosis. The temporal-spatial distributions of velocity vectors, pressure drop between the proximal and distal toe, wall shear stresses, wall shear stress gradients and oscillating shear index were compared. The present study indicated that femoral artery bypassed with a large graft demonstrated disturbed axial flow and secondary flow at the distal anastomosis while the axial flow at its downstream of toe was featured with larger and more uniform longitudinal velocities. Meanwhile, the large model exhibits less refluences, relatively uniform wall shear stresses, lower pressure and smaller wall shear stress gradients, whereas it does not have any advantages in the distributions of secondary flow and the oscillating shear index. In general, the large model exhibits better and more uniform hemodynamic phenomena near the vessel wall and may be effective in preventing the initiation and development of postoperative intimal hyperplasia and restenosis.     

The importance of parent artery geometry in intra-aneurysmal hemodynamics

We show the importance of arterial geometry in intra-aneurysmal hemodynamics. Using a new geometric parameterized saccular aneurysm model including parameters for parent artery shape and the configuration of the aneurysm in the parent artery, we performed a parametric computational fluid dynamics study. We examined lateral saccular aneurysm models with different aneurysm shapes (i.e., the ratio of aneurysm height to aneurysm neck diameter) and different configurations (i.e., the torsion angle of the aneurysm to the upstream part of the parent artery). The aneurysm lateral to the curve of the parent artery had significantly higher wall shear stress than the aneurysm inside or outside the curve of the artery, even with the same shape of the aneurysm. Our findings suggest the important role played by the configuration of the aneurysm relative to the parent artery in intra-aneurysmal hemodynamics.     

腹主动脉瘤中定常流动的三维数值模拟

目的讨论定常流动情况下，三维腹主动脉瘤模型内的流动情况。方法应用三维非对称模型进行数值模拟。结果结果表明，在对称面上有一个涡而横截面上有两对涡的存在。壁面切应力在动脉瘤的出口处数值较高且变化大。结论流动和壁面切应力分布反应动脉瘤出口处为破裂的危险区域。