Evaluation of Contact Force between Aneurysm Model and Coil for Embolization of Intracranial Aneurysms

OBJECTIVE: To ensure safe coil embolization for intracranial aneurysms, it is important to investigate the contact force between the coil and the aneurysm wall. However, it is unclear how the catheter tip position and the diameter of the secondary loop of the coil influence the contact force. In this study, we measured the contact force between a coil and an aneurysm biomodel under different conditions. METHODS: A commercially available coil was inserted through a microcatheter into a silicone rubber aneurysm model at a constant speed (1 mm/s) using an automatic stage, and the contact force between the coil and the aneurysm wall was measured by a force sensor attached on the aneurysm model. The inner diameter of the spherical aneurysm was 5 mm. The effects of varying the position of the catheter tip (near dome, center, near neck) and the diameter of the secondary coil (4.5 mm) were evaluated. RESULTS: When the catheter tip was inserted more deeply into the aneurysm (especially near the dome), the contact force increased. The contact force also increased as the secondary coil diameter was increased with the catheter tip near and in the center of the dome. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the catheter tip position and the secondary coil diameter affect the contact force. In particular, the contact force should be considered large with the catheter tip near the dome to ensure safe coil deployment.