Numerical Simulation of Blood Clot Extraction Process Using Aspiration-Based Mechanical Thrombectomy

This paper simulates the blood clot extraction process inside an idealized cylindrical blood vessel model using the aspiration-based thrombectomy technique. A fully Eulerian technique is used within the finite volume method where incompressible Navier–Stokes equations are solved in the fluid region. In contrast, the Cauchy stress equation is solved in the clot region. Blood is assumed to be a Newtonian fluid, while the clot is either hyperelastic or viscoelastic material. In the hyperelastic formulation, the clot deformation is calculated based on the left Cauchy–Green deformation tensor, while the stresses are based on the linear Mooney–Rivlin model. In the viscoelastic formulation, the Oldroyd B model is used within the log conformation approach to calculate the viscoelastic stresses in the clot. The interface between the blood and the clot is tracked with the help of the geometric volume-of-fluid method. We focus on the role of flow variables like the pressure, velocity, and proximity between the clot and the catheter tip to successfully capture the clot under catheter suction. We observe that, once the clot is attracted to the catheter port due to pressure forces, the viscous stresses try to drag it inside the catheter. On the other hand, if the clot is not initially attracted, it is carried downstream by the viscous stresses. If the suction velocity is low (∼0.2 m/s), the clot cannot be sucked inside the catheter, even if it is touching the catheter. At a higher suction velocity of 0.4 m/s, the suction effect is strong enough to capture the clot despite the larger initial distance from the catheter. Hence, the pressure distribution and viscous stresses play essential roles in the suction or escape of the clot during the thrombectomy process. Also, the viscoelastic model predicts the rupture of the clot inside the catheter during suction.