Numerical Simulation of Intracranial Saccular Aneurysm Treated with Stent with Triangular Wire Cross-Section

Abstract

The flow resistance of stent with different shape of wire cross-section can be considered as a factor that influences the condition of inflow and outflow through the stent wire. Different from the traditional stents, a novel stent with triangular wire cross-section was proposed, and numerical simulations were performed to compare the hemodynamic effect of the novel stent with that of traditional ones. Three constructed aneurysm models were treated with a different kind of stent separately, including one with bare circular wire cross-section stent (named CM), one with bare rectangular wire cross-section stent (named RM), one with bare triangular cross-section stent (named TM). An unstented aneurysm model was also constructed to serve as a control (named UM). Numerical simulations of the fluid-structure interaction in these four models were performed under the same boundary conditions using finite element method. The simulation results demonstrated the resistance of the novel stent is lower than RM stent, but higher than that of CM stent. TM stent attributes a higher velocity decreasing and a longer turnover time compared with CM stent. The distribution of wall shear stress indicated the possibility of aneurysm development along the distal wall was higher than the proximal wall, and the top of aneurysm was in the highest risk of rupture.