OBJECTIVE: The development of new endovascular technologies and techniques for mechanical thrombectomy in stroke has greatly relied on benchtop simulators. This paper presents an affordable, versatile, and realistic benchtop simulation model for stroke. METHODS: A test bed for embolic occlusion of cerebrovascular arteries and mechanical thrombectomy was developed with 3D-printed and commercially available cerebrovascular phantoms, a customized hydraulic system to generate physiological flow rate and pressure, and 2 types of embolus analogs (elastic and fragment-prone) capable of causing embolic occlusions under physiological flow. RESULTS: The test bed was highly versatile and allowed realistic, radiation-free mechanical thrombectomy for stroke due to large-vessel occlusion with rapid exchange of geometries and phantom types. Of the transparent cerebrovascular phantoms tested, the 3D-printed phantom was the easiest to manufacture, the glass model offered the best visibility of the interaction between embolus and thrombectomy device, and the flexible model most accurately mimicked the endovascular system during device navigation. None of the phantoms modeled branches smaller than 1 mm or perforating arteries, and none underwent realistic deformation or luminal collapse from device manipulation or vacuum. The hydraulic system created physiological flow rate and pressure leading to iatrogenic embolization during thrombectomy in all phantoms. Embolus analogs with known fabrication technique, structure, and tensile strength were introduced and consistently occluded the middle cerebral artery bifurcation under physiological flow, and their interaction with the device was accurately visualized. CONCLUSIONS: The test bed presented in this study is a low-cost, comprehensive, realistic, and versatile platform that enabled high-quality analysis of embolus-device interaction in multiple cerebrovascular phantoms and embolus analogs.
OBJECTIVE: The development of new endovascular technologies and techniques for mechanical thrombectomy in stroke has greatly relied on benchtop simulators. This paper presents an affordable, versatile, and realistic benchtop simulation model for stroke. METHODS: A test bed for embolic occlusion of cerebrovascular arteries and mechanical thrombectomy was developed with 3D-printed and commercially available cerebrovascular phantoms, a customized hydraulic system to generate physiological flow rate and pressure, and 2 types of embolus analogs (elastic and fragment-prone) capable of causing embolic occlusions under physiological flow. RESULTS: The test bed was highly versatile and allowed realistic, radiation-free mechanical thrombectomy for stroke due to large-vessel occlusion with rapid exchange of geometries and phantom types. Of the transparent cerebrovascular phantoms tested, the 3D-printed phantom was the easiest to manufacture, the glass model offered the best visibility of the interaction between embolus and thrombectomy device, and the flexible model most accurately mimicked the endovascular system during device navigation. None of the phantoms modeled branches smaller than 1 mm or perforating arteries, and none underwent realistic deformation or luminal collapse from device manipulation or vacuum. The hydraulic system created physiological flow rate and pressure leading to iatrogenic embolization during thrombectomy in all phantoms. Embolus analogs with known fabrication technique, structure, and tensile strength were introduced and consistently occluded the middle cerebral artery bifurcation under physiological flow, and their interaction with the device was accurately visualized. CONCLUSIONS: The test bed presented in this study is a low-cost, comprehensive, realistic, and versatile platform that enabled high-quality analysis of embolus-device interaction in multiple cerebrovascular phantoms and embolus analogs.
Authors: Y Liu; D Gebrezgiabhier; Y Zheng; A J Shih; N Chaudhary; A S Pandey; J L A Larco; S I Madhani; M Abbasi; A H Shahid; R A Quinton; R Kadirvel; W Brinjikji; D F Kallmes; L E Savastano Journal: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol Date: 2022-01-13 Impact factor: 3.825
Authors: Yang Liu; Adithya S Reddy; Joshua Cockrum; Miranda C Ajulufoh; Yihao Zheng; Albert J Shih; Aditya S Pandey; Luis E Savastano Journal: J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis Date: 2020-08-07 Impact factor: 2.677
Authors: S T Fitzgerald; Y Liu; D Dai; O M Mereuta; M Abbasi; J L A Larco; A S Douglas; D F Kallmes; L Savastano; K M Doyle; W Brinjikji Journal: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol Date: 2021-04-08 Impact factor: 4.966
Authors: Yang Liu; Mehdi Abbasi; Jorge L Arturo Larco; Ramanathan Kadirvel; David F Kallmes; Waleed Brinjikji; Luis Savastano Journal: J Neurointerv Surg Date: 2021-03-15 Impact factor: 8.572
Authors: Marie Teresa Nawka; Uta Hanning; Helena Guerreiro; Fabian Flottmann; Noel Van Horn; Jan-Hendrik Buhk; Jens Fiehler; Andreas Maximilian Frölich Journal: PLoS One Date: 2020-09-17 Impact factor: 3.240