Flow Diverter Performance Comparison of Different Wire Materials for Effective Intracranial Aneurysm Treatment

A flow diverter (FD) is an effective method for treating wide-necked intracranial aneurysms by inducing hemodynamic changes in aneurysms. However, the procedural technique remains challenging, and it is often not performed properly in many cases of deployment or placements. In this study, three types of FDs that changed the material of the wire were prepared within the same structure. Differences in physical properties, such as before and after delivery loading stent size, radial force, and radiopacity, were evaluated. The performances in terms of deployment and trackability force were also evaluated in a simulated model using these FDs. Furthermore, changes of deployment patterns when these FDs were applied to a 3D-printed aneurysm model were determined. The NiTi FD using only nitinol (NiTi) wire showed 100% size recovery and 42% to 45% metal coverage after loading. The low trackability force (10.9 to 22.9 gf) allows smooth movement within the delivery system. However, NiTi FD cannot be used in actual surgeries due to difficulties in X-ray identification. NiTi-Pt/W FD, a combination of NiTi wire and platinum/tungsten (Pt/W) wire, had the highest radiopacity and compression force (6.03 ± 0.29 gf) among the three FDs. However, it suffered from high trackability force (22.4 to 39.9 gf) and the end part braiding mesh tended to loosen easily, so the procedure became more challenging. The NiTi(Pt) FD using a platinum core nitinol (NiTi(Pt)) wire had similar trackability force (11.3 to 22.1 gf) to NiTi FD and uniform deployment, enhancing procedural convenience. However, concerns about low expansion force (1.79 ± 0.30 gf) and the potential for migration remained. This comparative analysis contributes to a comprehensive understanding of how different wire materials influence the performance of FDs. While this study is still in its early stages and requires further research, its development has the potential to guide clinicians and researchers in optimizing the selection and development of FDs for the effective treatment of intracranial aneurysms.