AneurysmFlow

Currently, a combination of digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and three-dimensional rotational angiography (3DRA) is the gold standard for imaging vascular lesions, but it provides limited functional information about flow. AneurysmFlow uses novel algorithms based on the optical flow principle to convert information from a 3DRA acquisition and 2D DSA flow sequences into quantitative flow values. These values are used to visualize and quantify flow dynamics before and after flow diverter deployment in cerebral aneurysms.

The Mean Aneurysm Flow Amplitude (MAFA) ratio represents the change in blood flow in the aneurysm after flow diverter deployment. The MAFA ratio is derived by comparing the average projected velocity of the blood flow in the aneurysm before and after flow diverter deployment. This ratio is corrected for average velocity change of the blood flow in the primary feeding vessel to the aneurysm. An initial study compared the compensated MAFA ratio to the results of aneurysm occlusion on follow-up exams. The threshold analysis of the MAFA ratio significantly predicted thrombosis at 12 months below a threshold of 1.03 (P= .035). The authors say, “The MAFA ratio based on DSA flow quantification appears to be a reliable predictor for the assessment of stent treatment outcomes in this small study.” ⁴