Thrombosis is produced by the formation of a clot inside blood vessels causing an abrupt interruption of the blood flow. In the cerebral arteries, this occlusion can take place due to the presence of a clot that has formed at another location of greater diameter. It then obstructs the cerebral artery due to its smaller cross section. The process concerning the removal of this obstruction involves catheterisation. The experimental probe under study in this paper was developed by Dr G. Pearce and Reverend Neil Perkinson [1]. The probe, which when developed further may form the basis of a new Thrombectomy Aspiration Device (TAD) is called the GPTAD. Once fully developed, the GPTAD may provide a means of clot removal from vessels in the human arterial system e.g. the cerebral vessels. The modelling that we present in this paper, taking into account the catheter, the probe, artery, blood clot and adhesion forces, may assist with the optimisation of the design of the GPTAD probe . In the model used for the simulation both mechanical and hydraulic aspects have been considered with the purpose of combining the effect of the fluid-blood transmission for the different sections of the vein and the catheter.

Thrombectomy devices have been developed as an alternative means for clot removal. A number of devices using a variety of methods to remove the clot are now available. This chapter covers the analysis and research into a device recently developed in the UK, called a "GP" thrombus aspiration device (TAD). Presented in this work is the development of a model of this device, as well as its simulation and interpretation of the results obtained with the potential for helping in optimizing its operation for future use. The simulation model that is presented can be used in showing the potential performance of the "GP" TAD device under different conditions of blood flow and size of blood clot, obtaining the minimum pressure necessary to extract the clot and to check that both this pressure and the time required to complete the operation are reasonable for potential use in clinical situations patients, and are in line with experimentally obtained data.

Abstract-A number of Thrombectomy devices using a variety of methods have now been developed to facilitate clot removal. We present research involving one such experimental device recently developed in the UK, called a 'GP' Thrombus Aspiration Device (TAD). This device has the potential to improve the process of extracting thrombosis clots in the cerebral arteries. The development of a simulation model for this device is shown using Bond-Graph formalism applied to modeling and simulating the adhesion forces between the clot and the artery wall. Bond-Graph technique is a visual methodology that adds more transparency to the processes and it has turned out to be remarkably useful as it is a simple, effective method that can be applied to any physical system where there is a power exchange.Such modelling appears to be able to simulate the device under a variety of conditions which may assist in the optimisation of the 'GP' TAD device if the novel design features of the device can be effectively incorporated into the model.

No abstract

No abstract