Researchers at KU Leuven study the mechanical properties of human cardiovascular tissues to improve aneurysm diagnosis, treatment planning, and biomechanical modeling.
In this interview, Julie Vastmans and Heleen Fehervary discuss how biaxial mechanical testing of small surgical tissue samples provides reliable material parameters for numerical models. Their work demonstrates that mechanical properties can distinguish aneurysmal tissues approaching rupture from tissues that meet size-based clinical criteria but remain mechanically stable.
The research highlights how integrating tissue mechanics into diagnostic and modeling workflows can improve clinical decision-making, surgical planning, and patient outcomes.
