Publications by authors named "F J H Gijsen"
Many cardiovascular events are triggered by fibrous cap rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque in arteries. However, cap rupture, including the impact of the cap's structural components, is poorly understood. To obtain better mechanistic insights in a biologically and mechanically controlled environment, we previously developed a tissue-engineered fibrous cap model.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEndovascular thrombectomy (EVT) aims at restoring blood flow in case of acute ischemic stroke by removing the thrombus occluding a large cerebral artery. During the procedure with stent-retriever, the thrombus is captured within the device, which is then retrieved, subjecting the thrombus to several forces, potentially leading to its fragmentation. In silico studies, along with mechanical characterisation of thrombi, can enhance our understanding of the EVT, helping the development of new devices and interventional strategies.
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- - The study investigates how red blood cell (RBC) and platelet content in blood clots affect CT imaging characteristics and mechanical properties, which could help predict the success of thrombectomy procedures.
- - Researchers created blood clot analogues with varying RBC and platelet concentrations and used imaging techniques (NCCT and CECT) to assess clot densities and mechanical properties under stress.
- - Findings suggest that while RBC content primarily determines non-contrast CT density, platelet content significantly impacts contrast-enhanced density and clot stiffness, indicating both components play unique roles in clot characteristics.
The rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque cap overlying a lipid pool and/or necrotic core can lead to thrombotic cardiovascular events. In essence, the rupture of the plaque cap is a mechanical event, which occurs when the local stress exceeds the local tissue strength. However, due to inter- and intra-cap heterogeneity, the resulting ultimate cap strength varies, causing proper assessment of the plaque at risk of rupture to be lacking.
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- - The study investigates the relationship between blood clot characteristics, such as composition and mechanical properties, and their visibility on CT imaging to improve endovascular thrombectomy outcomes.
- - Five different red blood cell (RBC) volume suspensions created two distinct clot types: fibrin-rich (0% RBCs) and RBC-rich (>90% RBCs), revealing significant differences in density, stiffness, and contraction between them.
- - Findings suggest that CT imaging can effectively indicate the RBC content of clots and may help predict their behavior, but further research is needed on clots with intermediate RBC and platelet levels.