Geometric verification of the validity of Finite Element Method analysis of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms based on Magnetic Resonance Imaging

The currently used criterion of maximum transverse diameter for the Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm treatment has some limitations. Attempts to create individualized, therapeutic strategies are being conducted, including biomechanical assessment of rupture risk of an aneurysm based on the Finite Element Analysis of the geometric models. The usual approach is to use the results of the computed tomography imaging to build a three-dimensional model of the aneurysm. The FEA is then performed and the resulting stress is analysed to estimate the risk of rupture. Although such an approach brings significant improvements over the traditional maximum diameter method, it is difficult to ensure the validity of the assumptions made. This paper presents a method to evaluate the correctness of such an approach. The emergence of gated Magnetic Resonance Imaging allows registering aneurysm in both the systolic and diastolic phase of cardiac cycle. The corresponding geometric models are built and the results of the FEA applied to the diastolic model are compared with the actual deformation of the aneurysm observed in the patient's body. Thus, it is possible to verify whether the individualized diagnostic approach applied to a specific patient was correct. The geometry of the reference and the analysed models were compared using the Differential Surface Area Method. The average geometry error equals 1.65%. In the best case the error amounts to 1.04%, in the worst to 3.00%. The obtained results provide evidence that the Finite Element Analysis is a reliable method and can be potentially used for individualized diagnostics and treatment. (C) 2018 Nalecz Institute of Biocybernetics and Biomedical Engineering of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.