Jason Ortega, Ph.D.
Senior Scientist
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

“Virtual Treatment of Basilar Aneurysms Using Shape Memory Polymer Foam”

Numerical simulations are performed on patient-specific basilar aneurysms that are treated with shape memory polymer (SMP) foam embolic devices. To assess the post-treatment hemodynamics, the foam geometry is obtained from a micro-CT scan and the pulsatile blood flow within the treated aneurysm is simulated with a non-Newtonian viscosity model. Virtual angiography and additional post-processing demonstrate that the SMP foam significantly reduces the blood flow speed within the treated aneurysms, while eliminating the high-frequency velocity fluctuations that are present within the pre-treatment aneurysms. Short-term treatment outcomes are assessed by predicting thrombus development using both a low fidelity, correlation-based thrombosis model and a medium fidelity model that incorporates time-dependent coupling of the biofluid and biochemical phenomena. This medium fidelity model yields a more physiologically relevant time history of thrombus growth.

Location
1005 GBSF