Development of an in vitro setup for flow studies in a stented carotid artery bifurcation

To investigate flow conditions in a double-layered carotid artery stent, a bench-top in vitro flow setup including a bifurcation phantom was designed and fabricated. The geometry of the tissue-mimicking phantom was based on healthy individuals. Two identical phantoms were created using 3D-printing techniques and molding with PVA-gel. In one of them, a clinically available CGuard double-layer stent was inserted. Measurements were performed using both continuous and pulsatile flow conditions. Blood flow studies were performed using echoPIV: a novel ultrasound-based technique combined with particle image velocimetry. A maximum deviation of 3% was visible between desired and measured flow patterns. The echoPIV measurements showed promising results on visualization and quantification of blood flow in and downstream the stent. Further research could demonstrate the effects of a double-layered stent on blood flow patterns in a carotid bifurcation in detail.