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Opacification of Shape Memory Polymer Foam Designed for Treatment of Intracranial Aneurysms

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Abstract

Shape memory polymer (SMP) foam possesses structural and mechanical characteristics that make them very promising as an alternative treatment for intracranial aneurysms. Our SMP foams have low densities, with porosities as high as 98.8%; favorable for catheter delivery and aneurysm filling, but unfavorable for attenuating X-rays. This lack of contrast impedes the progression of this material becoming a viable medical device. This paper reports on increasing radio-opacity by incorporating a high-Z element, tungsten particulate filler to attenuate X-rays, while conserving similar physical properties of the original non-opacified SMP foams. The minimal amount of tungsten for visibility was determined and subsequently incorporated into SMP foams, which were then fabricated into samples of increasing thicknesses. These samples were imaged through a pig’s skull to demonstrate radio-opacity in situ. Quantification of the increase in image contrast was performed via image processing methods and standard curves were made for varying concentrations of tungsten doped solid and foam SMP. 4% by volume loading of tungsten incorporated into our SMP foams has proven to be an effective method for improving radio-opacity of this material while maintaining the mechanical, physical and chemical properties of the original formulation.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering Grant R01EB000462. We would like to thank Amanda Connor, Josh Bergerson, Casey McCurrin, Stephen Darrouzet, Brent Volk and Keith Hearon for their technical support on this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, MS 3120, 337 Zachry Engineering Center, College Station, TX, 77843, USA

    Jennifer N. Rodriguez, Ya-Jen Yu, Brandon Gentry & Duncan J. Maitland

  2. Texas Institute for Preclinical Studies, Texas A&M University, MS 4478, College Station, TX, 77845, USA

    Matthew W. Miller

  3. Cardiovascular Pathology Laboratory, Texas A&M University, MS 4467, College Station, TX, 77843, USA

    Fred J. Clubb

  4. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Ave, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA

    Thomas S. Wilson & Duncan J. Maitland

  5. Department of Neurosurgery, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, 95825, USA

    Jonathan Hartman

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  1. Jennifer N. Rodriguez
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Correspondence to Duncan J. Maitland.

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Associate Editor Scott I. Simon oversaw the review of this article.

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Rodriguez, J.N., Yu, YJ., Miller, M.W. et al. Opacification of Shape Memory Polymer Foam Designed for Treatment of Intracranial Aneurysms. Ann Biomed Eng 40, 883–897 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-011-0468-1

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