A Novel Carotid Covered Stent Design: In Vitro Evaluation of Performance and Influence on the Blood Flow Regime at the Carotid Artery Bifurcation

In the present study, a novel carotid covered stent design has been developed. Prototypes of different geometrical design parameters have been fabricated and their performance has been evaluated in vitro under physiological pulsatile flow condition, utilizing flow visualization (dye injection), and particle image velocimetry techniques. These evaluations include the assessment of emboli prevention capability, side-branch flow preservation, and influence on the branch flow pattern and velocity field. The novel covered stents demonstrated significantly higher emboli prevention capability than the corresponding bare metal stent, while preserving more than 83% of the original flow of the external carotid artery (ECA). Flow in the ECA through these covered stents was uniform without evidence of undesirable flow recirculation and reversed flow that might predispose the vessel wall to post-stenting intimal thickening and atherosclerotic plaque formation. This study demonstrated the potential of these novel covered stent designs for the treatment of carotid atherosclerotic stenosis. However, further computational and in vivo investigations of hemodynamics, biological effects, and mechanical performance of this covered stent design is warranted.