Development and Feasibility Analysis of an Idealized Benchtop Model to Characterize Cerebral Flow Pathways

Understanding the hemodynamics and flow paths in the cerebral vascular network can provide insights into neurovascular diseases and inform therapeutics. The key component of this network is a ring-like anastomosis pf arteries named Circle of Willis that connects the six major cerebral arteries at the base of the brain. This ring-like network forms a proximal pathway for collateral flow across the cerebral artery territories. These pathways are further augmented by collateral contributions from distal leptomeningeal routes. Systematic understanding of this combined collateral flow remains a challenge, and insights on coupling between distal flow pathways and proximal collateral flow remain limited. In prior in silico analysis we have demonstrated features of proximal collateral flow in the Circle of Willis. Here, we discuss the proof-of-concept development, and feasibility analysis, of a benchtop flow network model to study brain collateral flow. The study involves: development of an idealized planar model of the Circle of Willis derived from patient images; integration of model distal collateral routes; distribution of controlled pulsatile flow through the cervical vessel entry points; and dynamic dye injection and washout analysis. The quantitative trends obtained from dye intensity distributions were used to assess the combined proximal and distal collateral flow status; and evaluate feasibility of this model system for parametric investigations of various collateral configurations.