Experimental Validation of CFD Simulations of Flow Through WEB Devices and Flow Diverters in Intracranial Bifurcation Aneurysms

• Grant number: 25/15928-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Start date: March 01, 2026
• End date: August 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mechanical Engineering - Transport Phenomena
• Principal Investigator: Iago Lessa de Oliveira
• Grantee: Marcella Pereira de Almeida Dallavanzi
• Supervisor: Ana Sofia Oliveira Henriques Moita
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia (FE). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Bauru. Bauru , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
• Associated to the scholarship: 24/19187-8 - Assessing the Effectiveness of WEB Devices to Occlude Bifurcation Intracranial Aneurysms: A CFD Analysis, BP.MS

Abstract

Intracranial aneurysms are abnormal dilations in the walls of cerebral arteries, frequently located at arterial bifurcations. Their rupture can lead to subarachnoid hemorrhage, which is associated with significant morbidity and mortality rates. Among the therapeutic options, endovascular procedures are distinguished by their minimal invasiveness, employing devices such as coils, stents, flow diverters, and, more recently, the Woven EndoBridge (WEB). A comprehensive understanding of the hemodynamic impact of these devices is crucial for evaluating their efficacy and preventing recurrences and complications. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) has been widely applied in this context; however, computational models often rely on simplifications that may compromise the accurate representation of in-vivo conditions. Consequently, experimental validation is paramount for enhancing the reliability of these studies. This project is dedicated to validating CFD simulations developed using the foam-extend software for a bifurcation aneurysm model in the internal carotid artery, treated with two devices: a flow diverter and the WEB. The validation will be conducted utilizing the Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) technique on physical models fabricated via additive manufacturing. The comparison of experimentally and numerically obtained velocity fields will enable an assessment of the simulations' accuracy, thereby contributing to the refinement of both the devices and the computational models. (AU)