A methodology to analyze changes in lipid core and calcification onto fibrous cap vulnerability: the human atherosclerotic carotid bifurcation as an illustratory example.

A lipid core that occupies a high proportion of the plaque volume in addition to a thin fibrous cap is a predominant indicator of plaque vulnerability. Nowadays, noninvasive imaging modalities can identify such structural components, however, morphological criteria alone cannot reliably identify high-risk plaques. Information, such as stresses in the lesion's components, seems to be essential.

Experimental studies and numerical analysis of the inflation and interaction of vascular balloon catheter-stent systems.

Balloon angioplasty with stenting is a well-established interventional procedure to treat stenotic arteries. Despite recent advances such as drug eluting stents, clinical studies suggest that stent design is linked to vascular injury. Additionally, dilation of the medical devices may trigger pathological responses such as growth and migration of vascular smooth cells, and may be a potent stimulus for neointimal hyperplasia.

A numerical model to study the interaction of vascular stents with human atherosclerotic lesions.

A methodology is proposed that identifies optimal stent devices for specific clinical criteria. It enables to predict the effect of stent designs on the mechanical environment of stenotic arteries. In particular, we present a numerical study which is based on the interaction of a vascular stent with a patient-specific, atherosclerotic human iliac lesion of type V.