Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English en
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

Adjoint-based OPTimization of deflection-based cerebral embolic protection devices for reducing stroke risk in Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation

Project description

Reducing treatment side effects of aortic valve disease

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a popular treatment for aortic valve disease, especially for the elderly. However, there is a high risk of stroke after TAVI procedure in 5–7 % of the patients, due to cerebral embolic signals. To address this problem, the EU-funded OPTAVI project aims to optimise the performance of cerebral embolic protection devices (CEPD), which are used to reduce the debris going to the brain. Scientists will obtain a more in-depth physical understanding to enhance the hydrodynamic efficacy of CEPD and generate a CEPD design that offers maximum cerebral protection.

Objective

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has quickly become the clinical standard for patients with medium to high risk for surgery. Despite being a promising treatment for aortic valve disease in the elderly, stroke remains a major complication of TAVI. Large randomized clinical trials reported stroke within 30 days in 5-7% of the patients undergoing TAVI . TCD ultrasound imaging has showed cerebral embolic signals in 100% of the TAVI patients, mainly during valve deployment. Cerebral embolic protection devices (CEPD) have been developed to reduce the migration of debris to the brain during TAVI, and resulted in 44-46% decrease in brain lesions. Despite this progress, the risk still remains significant. 
Current CEPDs are based on fairly simple-minded ideas, e.g. placing filters inside brachiocephalic and left common cartoid arteries (e.g. Sentinel), or simply covering the arteries in the aortic arch with a filter to deflect the debris downstream (e.g. TriGaurd HDH). Because the flow here is turbulent and laden with solid particles, more advanced physical understanding is needed to examine and/or enhance the hydrodynamic efficacy of CEPDs. 
This project aims at creating a 3D nonlinear adjoint-based framework on top of an existing GPU-accelerated flow solver for optimization of the CEPDs performance when exposed to the particle-laden turbulent flow in the aorta. First, the flow through a model of a prosthetic heart valve will be extended to include the full geometry of the thoracic aorta using an Immersed Boundary Method. Second, a Lagrangian model for finite-sized particles representing embolic debris will be coupled into the flow solver. Third, a deflection-based CEPD geometry will be introduced into the model. Fourth, nonlinear adjoint-based variational capabilities will be added on top of the particle-laden turbulent flow solver. Iterative direct-adjoint looping simulations will be then performed to obtain a CEPD design with maximum cerebral protection.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Keywords

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)

See all projects funded under this funding scheme

Call for proposal

(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2019

See all projects funded under this call

Coordinator

THE CHANCELLOR MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
Net EU contribution
€ 212 933,76
Address
TRINITY LANE THE OLD SCHOOLS
CB2 1TN CAMBRIDGE
United Kingdom
Region
East of England East Anglia Cambridgeshire CC
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost
€ 212 933,76