Endoluminal scaffolds for vascular reconstruction and exclusion of aneurysms from the cerebral circulation.

The latest class of neuroendovascular devices being evaluated is intended to treat cerebral aneurysms. In addition to inducing flow stasis-mediated thrombosis of aneurysms and thus at times being referred to as flow diverters, these devices reconstitute pathologic arterial segments to near-physiologic normalcy. The successful implementation of such an endoluminal scaffold for vascular reconstruction in the cerebral circulation requires careful consideration of various factors drawn from engineering, physics, and biological sciences. Here we review some of these factors.