In this study, compliant
latex thin-walled
aneurysm models are fabricated to investigate the effects of expansion of
shape memory polymer foam. A simplified cylindrical model is selected for the in-vitro
aneurysm, which is a simplification of a real,
saccular aneurysm. The studies are performed by crimping
shape memory polymer foams, originally 6 and 8 mm in diameter, and monitoring the resulting deformation when deployed into 4-mm-diameter thin-walled
latex tubes. The deformations of the
latex tubes are used as inputs to physical, analytical, and computational models to estimate the circumferential stresses. Using the results of the stress analysis in the
latex aneurysm model, a computational model of the human
aneurysm is developed by changing the geometry and material properties. The model is then used to predict the stresses that would develop in a human
aneurysm. The experimental, simulation, and analytical results suggest that
shape memory polymer foams have potential of being a safe treatment for intracranial saccular
aneurysms. In particular, this work suggests oversized shape memory foams may be used to better fill the entire
aneurysm cavity while generating stresses below the
aneurysm wall breaking stresses.