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Flow Diverted Aneurysmal Hemodynamic Simulations and Validation With

Experiments

Conference Paper · June 2013

DOI: 10.1115/SBC2013-14686

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 Proceedings of the ASME 2013 Summer Bioengineering Conference
SBC2013
June 26-29, 2013, Sunriver, Oregon, USA

SBC2013-14686

FLOW DIVERTED ANEURYSMAL HEMODYNAMIC SIMULATIONS AND VALIDATION

WITH EXPERIMENTS

Dholakia RJ, Sadasivan C, Fiorella DJ, Woo HH, Lieber BB

Department of Neurological Surgery,

Stony Brook University Medical Center,
Stony Brook, New York 11794
USA

INTRODUCTION
Brain aneurysms occur due to abnormal ballooning of cerebral
arteries. Rupture of the cerebral aneurysms can result in subarachnoid
hemorrhage and may prove fatal for patients [1]. Surgical clipping is a
highly invasive option for treatment of aneurysms. Endovascular flow
diverting stents have recently emerged as a less invasive treatment for
cerebral aneurysms. Flow diverters for intracranial aneurysms, are
porous metallic mesh tubes deployed across the neck of the aneurysm
to exclude the aneurysm from the circulation [2-4]. By producing a
substantial reduction of flow inside the aneurysm and by promoting
activation of platelets that cross the device into the aneurysm, intra-
aneurysmal thrombus is generated and the aneurysm is eventually
excluded from the circulation.
Previously, in vitro and in vivo experiments have been conducted
for design evaluation of various flow diverters [2, 3]. Numerical
simulations provide an economic alternative to complement
experimental testing for medical devices [4]. The purpose of this study
was to compare and validate numerical flow simulations inside a
model aneurysm before and after implantation of 3 flow diverters
having different pore densities and to compare the hemodynamic
results obtained using computational simulations with available
experimental results [2].
respectively. Spiral wires that served as flow diverters were deployed
across the neck of the aneurysm. Based on wire diameter and pitch,
three devices of different loop density across the neck were
constructed using SolidWorks while maintaining a constant porosity of
76%. Stents #’s 1, 2, and 3 had wire diameters of 178, 153, and 127
µm; and 12, 15, and 17 spiral loops across the neck of the aneurysm,
respectively. After positioning the stent across the neck of the
aneurysm, the stented lumen models were obtained through Boolean
subtraction of the stent from the vessel lumen [5].
Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations for conservation
of mass (continuity) and balance of fluid momentum (Navier-Stokes)
were performed using the commercial finite element package ADINA
8.7 (ADINA R&D, Watertown, MA). A pulsatile waveform
(Womersley number 2.54, mean flow 145.2 ml/min and cardiac cycle

METHODS
An idealized model of a side-wall saccular spherical
aneurysm was created using computer aided design (CAD) package
SolidWorks 2011 (Dassault Systemes, Waltham, MA). The
dimensions of the computational model were derived from the
dimensions of the in vitro model used for particle image velocimetry
Figure 1. Stent #2 implanted in the Sidewall aneurysm model
(PIV) experiments. The parent vessel diameter and the aneurysm
(left) and finite element mesh representing the model (right).
diameter for the computational model were 6.35 mm and 8.45 mm

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 1 sec) was mapped on to the inlet face nodes of the models in the form the cardiac cycle is consistent with the PIV results (Figure 3). In
of Womersley velocity profile. The vessel wall and the stent surface comparison to control, circulation dropped markedly for the stented
were assumed to be rigid and no-slip boundary conditions were cases. For the control case, peak circulation of 315.2mm2/sec at 0.34
applied. Flow in the models was assumed to be incompressible and sec was consistent with the PIV peak value of 316.4mm2/sec at 0.34
laminar. Newtonian fluid assumption was made and a constant sec. Among the devices, stent 2 has the lowest peak circulation at 7.7
viscosity of 11.42 cP was applied along with a density of 1.1475
gm/ml consistent with experimental parameters.
Automated Delaunay meshing scheme in ADINA was used for
meshing the geometries. A sidewall aneurysm model without any stent
deployed (serving as control) was meshed to 316931 tetrahedral
elements while the models with stents 1, 2 and 3 contained 704080,
968032, 1037579 tetrahedral elements respectively (Figure 1). The
mesh density was higher around the stent wire surfaces as compared to
the vessel walls in the model. After an initial flow ramp reaching the
diastolic conditions, all simulations were allowed to run for 3 cardiac
cycles. The results obtained from the last cardiac cycle were used to
calculate hemodynamic parameters and flow evaluation.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Intra-aneurysmal CFD velocity profiles were in good agreement
with the experimental PIV results for the control and stented cases [2]
(Figure 2). High density of elements, hence velocity vectors, prevail
around the stented aneurysm necks in comparison with the uniform
PIV grid as can be seen in Fig 2. For the control case, during early
acceleration, the fluid entered and exited the aneurysm quickly with Figure 2. Comparison of the hydrodynamic circulations for the
small anti-clockwise rotation of the velocity vectors near the neck. control case and the 3 stented models between CFD and PIV.
During rest of the cycle, a clockwise vortex develops in the aneurysm
mm2/sec, while stent 3 has the highest peak circulation at 13.0
with the rotation of velocity vectors being more pronounced during
mm2/sec. Overall mean circulation over the cardiac cycle is lowest for
deceleration (Figure 2). Post stenting, the clockwise vortex in the
stent #2 followed by stent #1 and stent #3. Noteworthy, the fluctuation
aneurysm was replaced with a continuous anti-clockwise rotation.
in the PIV circulation curves during diastole most likely resulted from
Importantly, flow inside the aneurysm was diminished after
flutter of the stent wires that were not apposed well to the vessel wall
deployment of the flow diverter.
due to low radial force of the devices. Such fluctuations were not seen
Alteration in intra-aneurysmal flow in terms of vorticity and
in the computational results.
hydrodynamic circulation in the plane of symmetry were obtained for
In summary, the CFD circulation results were in good agreement
comparison with the PIV results. The hydrodynamic circulation over
with the PIV results. In addition, kinetic energy inside the aneurysm
will be quantified from the velocity fields and compared among the
devices. By validation of the results against experimental data, this
study can serve as a basis for CFD simulations of flow diverted in
more complicated patient derived vascular beds.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Supported by NIH R01NS045753 to BBL

REFERENCES
1. Brisman, J.L., J.K. Song, and D.W. Newell, Cerebral aneurysms.
N Engl J Med, 2006. 355(9): p. 928-39.
2. Lieber, B.B., et al., Particle image velocimetry assessment of
stent design influence on intra-aneurysmal flow. Ann
Biomed Eng, 2002. 30(6): p. 768-77.
3. Sadasivan, C., et al., An original flow diversion device for the
treatment of intracranial aneurysms: evaluation in the rabbit
elastase-induced model. Stroke, 2009. 40(3): p. 952-8.
4. Lieber, B.B., A.P. Stancampiano, and A.K. Wakhloo, Alteration
of hemodynamics in aneurysm models by stenting: influence
of stent porosity. Ann Biomed Eng, 1997. 25(3): p. 460-9.
5. Gundert, T.J., et al., A rapid and computationally inexpensive
method to virtually implant current and next-generation
Figure 3. Top; Intra-aneurysmal clockwise velocity vectors for stents into subject-specific computational fluid dynamics
the control CFD (left) vs PIV (right) at the deceleration phase models. Ann Biomed Eng, 2011. 39(5): p. 1423-37.
of systole (0.54 sec). Bottom; counterclockwise rotation pattern
for stents #2 (left) and #3 (right) at the same instant.

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