A Visual Support System for Stent-Assisted Treatment of Cerebral Aneurysms Using 3D Imaging and Augmented Reality

Precise visualization of vascular structures is crucial for planning and performing stent-assisted interventions in cerebral aneurysms. Traditional 2D imaging frequently lacks sufficient spatial information, which restricts clinicians’ ability to evaluate vessel morphology, branching patterns, and how stents would interact with the vessel wall. This paper introduces an integrated visual support platform that unites workflow-driven medical image processing, numerical simulation of stent deployment, and augmented reality (AR) visualization via Microsoft HoloLens. The platform features a configurable workflow engine to handle medical data processing covering: vessel segmentation, medial-axis computation, mesh creation, and region-of-interest definition, followed by interactive simulation of stent expansion using computationally efficient approximation techniques. The resulting 3D models of the vasculature and stent are displayed in a dedicated AR environment that supports gesture-based interaction, real-time stent adjustment, and immersive navigation inside the vessels. This system provides intraoperative decision support by enabling clinicians to analyze stent placement, aneurysm coverage, and possible geometric limitations, and it also supports replay of simulations for training and educational purposes. The work shows that integrating 3D imaging, numerical modeling of stent–vessel interactions, and augmented reality can markedly improve precision, safety, and situational awareness in neurointerventional procedures.