Healthcare providers often rely on embolic coils to isolate a patient’s aneurysm from artery blood flow and prevent rupturing. However, embolic coils are associated with complications such as recanalization, compacted coils (as a result of pulsing arterial flow), improper healing of an aneurysm, and others—all of which may result in the growth or rupturing of an aneurysm, as well as the creation of additional aneurysms.

The coil placement procedure also carries the risk of coil migration into the parent artery and artery puncture. As such, the existing potential complications and risks of embolic coils demonstrate a need for alternative coiling devices.

StageBio pathologist Molly Friedemann, DMV, MS, DACVP, recently co-authored a study to assess the host response of aneurysms treated with shape memory polymer foam-coated coils versus bare metal coil occlusion devices.

Using Micro-CT and histopathology methods for the assessment, this study utilized a rabbit-elastase aneurysm model and compared the performance of foam-coated coils to that of bare platinum coils at 30, 90, and 180 days. The results of the study show that foam-coated coils offer the potential for an advanced degree of healing for aneurysm patients over the commonly used bare metal platinum coils.

Access and read “Micro-CT and histopathology methods to assess host response of aneurysms treated with shape memory polymer foam-coated coils versus bare metal coil occlusion devices” to learn the results of the study.