Research

Acute Ischemic Stroke Modeling

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS), the result of embolic occlusion of a cerebral artery, is responsible for 87% of the 6.5 million stroke-deaths each year. Despite improvements in stent-retriever and aspiration devices, 80% of eligible AIS patients will either die or suffer a major disability. In order to improve patient outcomes, the underlying biomechanics governing the removal of blood clots from cerebral arteries need to be better understood and improved surgical therapies developed. We are utilizing both experimental and computational models of AIS to investigate the effects of patient-specific geometries, blood clot properties, and hemodynamic conditions on successful clot removal.

Brain Shunt Modeling

Hydrocephalus is when an excess amount of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) accumulates within the ventricles of the brain, leading to elevated intracranial pressure. More than 1 of every 500 infants is born with hydrocephalus, making it the highest cause of brain surgery in children. The most common treatment is the surgical placement of a brain shunt to drain CSF from the ventricles. However, brain shunts have extremely high failure rates, with ~85% of patients requiring at least one shunt revision and 5% requiring 10 or more revisions. Our research focuses on developing experimental and computational models of brain shunts (both catheter and valve device components) to study their failure conditions.

Cardiopulmonary Bypass/Blood Pump Modeling

In order to simulate blood pump hemodynamics and to predict complications such as hemolysis and thrombosis, computational simulations must be thoroughly validated against experimental data. Therefore, we are developing mock circulatory flow loops and cardiovascular anatomical models to mimic physiological conditions. Pressure and flow measurements, flow visualization, and particle tracking are all being performed experimentally and used to validate more complex computational models.

Cerebrovascular Disease Modeling

Thrombosis and Thrombolysis

Anti-platelet, anticoagulant, and thrombolytic agents are used for the prevention and treatment of blood clots. Systemic thrombolysis is primary treatment option for deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Due to its intravenous introduction and short half-life, these drugs are rapidly removed from the circulation and their thrombolytic effect is quickly lost. New studies, however, have investigated local delivery in combination with mechanical thrombectomy but without knowledge of their effect on the clot itself. Therefore, we are investigating blood clot composition, their viscoelastic mechanical properties, and how they are affected by these drug therapies.

Blood Flow in Congenital Heart Disease

In the pediatric population, congenital heart disease affects over 36,000 newborns annually in the United States with few surgical options and a lack of mechanical cardiovascular support devices available to them. As part of the design process for developing devices, an improved understanding of pediatric blood flow and its influence on device induced complications including thrombosis and hemolysis is needed. Additionally, the role of altered patient hemodynamics in adverse pulmonary vascular remodeling are not well understood. we are looking to utilize computational modeling to help aid in new device design and surgical planning.

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