Droplet Formation Simulation for Cerebral Aneurysm Embolization

Abstract

Although liquid embolization is performed in overseas as a preventive surgical procedure for subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by rupture of a cerebral aneurysm, it is unauthorized in Japan for the sake of safety. Then, the authors developed droplet formation simulation using particle method for its safety verification. The embolic material used in liquid embolization is highly viscous compared to water, so that reducing the simulation time step is necessary according to von Neumann condition. Otherwise, it takes a lot of time to analyze. Therefore, in this study, the viscous term is implicitly solved and the simulation time is reduced. Finally a simulation has been performed, where an embolic material is injected into a water tank that mimics a cerebral aneurysm through a circular tube that imitates a catheter. In addition, we have confirmed that a droplet has been formed, which was similar to the experimental result.