A 3D MODEL FOR MURAL-CELL-MEDIATED DESTRUCTIVE REMODELING DURING EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF A CEREBRAL ANEURYSM

Abstract

Development of a diagnostic tool for predicting the behavior of cerebral aneurysms was the inspiration of many research groups in recent years. In the present study a fluid–solid-growth (FSG) model for the early development of a cerebral aneurysm was presented in a 3D model of the internal carotid artery (ICA). This model is the result of two parallel mechanisms: first, defining arterial wall as a living tissue with the ability of degradation, growth and remodeling and second, full coupling of the wall and the blood flow. Taking into account the shear dependent nature of elastin degradation and mural-cell-mediated destructive activities, here, the degradation process has been linked to high effective stress of the vascular wall. The evolving properties of the elastinous and collagenous constituents have been predicted during the early development of the aneurysm and the code is applicable to more complicated aneurismal growth models.