Reduction of Intra-Aneurysmal Kinetic Energy by Intralumenal Flow Diverting Devices

Endovascular coiling is an acceptable treatment of intracranial aneurysms yet long term follow-ups suggest that endovascular coiling fails to achieve complete aneurysm occlusion particularly in wide-neck and giant aneurysms. Flow diverting devices can serve as an alternative to coils in endovascular bypass of human brain aneurysms for their exclusion from the cerebral circulation. They can redirect flow away from the aneurysm distally into the parent vessel thereby reestablishing physiological flow patterns. Placing of a flow diverting device across the aneurysm neck may be sufficient to occlude the aneurysm by promoting intra-aneurysmal thrombosis, however, conclusive evidence of its efficacy are still lacking. In this study [1], we investigated in vitro the efficacy of custom designed flow diverting devices and develop indices of their performance in an elastomeric model of the elastase-induced aneurysm in rabbit. The efficacy of custom designed flow divertors is investigated in terms of reducing the flow activity inside the sac. These custom made devices possess porosities that are similar to available stents, however, their pore densities are much higher. The results will help optimize the device that will be used in the animal model.