Pulsatile Flows in a Lateral Aneurysm Anchored on a Stented and Curved Parent Vessel

• Published in: Experimental mechanics 2004-06, Vol.44 (3), p.253-260
• Main Authors: Liou, T-M, Liou, S-N
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0014-4851
• DOI: 10.1177/0014485104039770

We present particle tracking velocimetry measurements and flow visualization of pulsatile flow fields in a stented cerebrovascular lateral aneurysm model with a wide ostium anchored on a curved parent vessel. Among the stent parameters, the blocking ratio Ca ranging from 0% to 75% was selected to study its effect on the changes of intra-aneurysmal hemodynamics for the reference of minimally invasive endovascular aneurysm treatment. The Womersley number was 3.9 and the mean, peak, and minimal Reynolds numbers based on the bulk average velocity and diameter of the parent vessel were 600, 850, and 300, respectively. The results are characterized in terms of velocity vector field, coded streak images, region averaged velocity, vorticity, and wall shear stress. A critical range of Ca related to the inflow location as well as the shape and number of intra-aneurysmal vortices is identified. The intra-aneurysmal flow activity, vortex strength, and wall shear stress are found to decrease with increasing Ca. Among the Ca examined, Ca = 75% is the most favorable in attenuating the risk of aneurysmal rupture and promoting intra-aneurysmal thrombus.