Neuro Thromboembolic Initiative

The complex nature of a clot can complicate therapeutic intervention. No two occlusions are alike – clots that cause a stroke can have a variety of compositions and properties. The Neuro Thromboembolic Initiative (NTI) is the commitment to advance the treatment of stroke through interdisciplinary collaboration and investment in clot and occlusion research. 

Neuro Thromboembolic Initiative

clot characterisation

 

Modeling Diverse Clots that Cause Stroke

Clots that cause stroke can come from numerous sources in the body, and they differ in composition, age, and morphology. NTI has developed methods to create a wide range of clot analogues that reflect clinical clots, in order to better understand these challenges in treating ischemic stroke.

blood clot 1

 

Fresh thrombus encapsulating mature fibrin core

 

blood clot 2

 

Young erythrocyte-rich clot analogue

 

blood clot 3

 

Partially matured clot analogue

 

blood clot 4

 

Heterogeneous clot with erythrocyte-rich and fibrin rich regions

 

blood clot 5

 

Layered clot with mature fibrin base and fresh erythrocyte deposition

 

blood clot 6

 

Composite clot with calcific inclusion

 

blood clot 7

 

Highly organised fibrin-rich clot analogue

 

blood clot 8

 

Fresh, erythrocyte-rich clot analogue

 

blood clot 9

 

Shear-induced fibrin-rich prosthetic valve clot analogue

 

 

Staining of four different clot types (x20 magnification). MSB stained fibrin red and erythrocytes yellow:

blood clot stain text
blood clot stain 1

 

blood clot stain 2

 

blood clot stain 3

 

blood clot stain 4

 

 

 

blood clot stain 5

Clot replete with red blood cells (RBCs)

 

blood clot stain 6

Thrombin-induced clot predominately composed of RBCs with interspersed bands of fibrin

 

blood clot stain 7

Dynamically formed clot, demonstrating a predominance of fibrin with collections of RBCs

 

blood clot stain 8

Fibrin-rich clot, showing delicate, fine fibrin strands

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Duffy S, et al. J NeuroIntervent Surg 2016;0:1–7.

Occlusion Dynamics

Advancing the Understanding of Occlusion Dynamics

Occlusion formation is influenced by many variables, including clot type, clot geometry, vessel anatomy and flow conditions. Understanding the mechanisms of occlusion formation can provide insights into optimal clot removal techniques.

clot device interaction

Advancing the Understanding of Clot-Device Interaction

Multiple clot properties change with clot-device interaction. One example is that as a clot undergoes compression, the coefficient of friction and resistance to retrieval increases.

Clot Compression

NTI research collaborations are exploring an extensive set of properties and implications related to clot-device interaction.

For product details such as indications, contraindications, warnings and precautions please consult the IFU.

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