Endovascular repair of aortic dissection with a bioresorbable patch: Computational and experimental study

Abstract

This study introduces an experimentally-calibrated finite-element framework to predict the endovascular sealing performance of a bioresorbable patch for aortic dissection repair. The patch–aortic wall interaction was modeled using an adhesion-enabled contact formulation, with parameters derived from a custom dye-penetration test to replicate in-vivo tissue adhesion. A parametric analysis assessed the impact of tear size (10–20 mm), tear morphology (round vs. circumferential ellipse), and deployment angle (5$°$–20$°$) on patch sealing efficiency, wall compliance, and local stress distribution under physiological loading. Tear geometry was identified as the dominant determinant of sealing: large round tears reduced effective apposition, while circumferential elliptical tears promoted full wall coupling at lower deployment forces. Increasing deployment angle raised insertion forces and impaired circumferential contact. Importantly, pulsatile hemodynamic loading demonstrated that the patch preserved native wall compliance without inducing adverse stress concentrations. By integrating experimental calibration with computational modeling, this framework offers a quantitative tool to evaluate anatomical and procedural factors influencing endovascular sealing. These insights may support the design optimization and clinical translation of resorbable patch-based strategies for aortic dissection repair.