Simulation of endovascular stenting/aortic endografting

The current trend in clinical procedures requires high-tech and minimally invasive devices, in particular for cardiovascular applications (e.g. stents, grippers, etc). As a consequence, the study and the use of innovative materials is a key ingredient for the success in such a field. The research activity of the group focuses on the development of computational tools, e.g., structural finite element analysis (FEA), in order to support the device design and to evaluate its mechanical response (in a patient-specific environment). In particular, the topics currently under investigation include:

• Nitinol Embolic Protection Filters: Design Investigation by FEA
• Carotid Artery stenting simulation: from DICOM to FEA
• Aorting endografting
• Popliteal stenting
• Coronary stenting

In-vitro testing: the simulation of aortic endograft has its experimental counterpart in the ß-lab activities (please refer to the link here)

Constitutive modeling: the simulations exploit advanced constitutive modeling of both arterial tissue (see here) and Nitinol (see here)

Main collaborations:

• IRCCS Policlinico San Donato (MI): Vascular surgery, Dr. S. Trimarchi
• Ospedale Cisanello (PI): Vascular Surgey, Prof. R. Berchiolli, MD Michele Marconi
• IBITech, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
• IRCCS San Matteo, Chirurgia Vascolare, Prof. A. Odero, Dr. S. Pirrelli