Geometry Closure for Hemodynamics Simulations

Physicians may treat an aneurysm by injecting coils through a catheter into the aneurysm, or by anchoring a stent as a flow diverter. Since such an intervention is risky, a patient is only treated when the probability of aneurysm rupture is relatively high. Hemodynamic properties of aneurysmal blood flow, extracted by computational fluid dynamics calculations, are hypothesized to be relevant for predicting this rupture. Since hemodynamics simulations require a closed vessel section with defined inflow and outflow points, and since the user can easily overlook small side branches, we have developed an algorithm for fully-automatic geometry closure of an open vessel section. Since X-ray based flow returns an indication for the needed length to have a developed flow inside the geometry, we have also developed an algorithm to create a geometry closure around an aneurysm based on a length criterion. After both geometry closure algorithms were tested elaborately, practicability of the hemodynamics workstation is currently being tested.