# Magnetically activated structures for minimally invasive endovascular therapy

> **NIH NIH R21** · STATE UNIVERSITY NEW YORK STONY BROOK · 2021 · $627,342

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Magnetically activated structures (MAS) are flexible “smart” structural systems incorporating distributed
actuators or control logics that can undergo desired deformations in a controlled manner. By incorporating
magnetic dipole particles in pre-specified orientations within the structure, MAS can be programmed to
generate adaptive and flexible movements in response to an external environmental stimulus through
shape morphing, ranging from simple bending and folding, to some complex transformations. Our long-
term goal is to leverage this versatility of MAS to optimize the treatment of vascular disease by developing
actively controllable structures as opposed to the current treatment paradigm that involves static or
passive devices. The focus of this project will be abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). AAA are abnormal
dilations of the abdominal aorta that can rupture with a 75-80% fatality rate. In most patients with suitable
anatomy and reasonable life expectancy, the preferred treatment modality for AAA is endovascular
aneurysm repair (EVAR). EVAR involves percutaneous transfemoral access to the aneurysm site and
endovascular deployment of stent grafts in the aortoiliac arteries in order to cover the entire aneurysm
thereby effectively sealing the sac. The primary drawback of EVAR is the occurrence of endoleak (blood
flows into the aneurysm around the stent graft), which must be treated urgently if it occurs due to stent-
graft migration, kinking, or failure. Here, MAS-grafts will be designed using numerical topology
optimization simulations such that the structures can be deformed in situ by a non-invasive magnetic field
in order to conform to the vascular wall thereby mitigating leaks or migrations. Magnetic actuation can
also be used to facilitate treatment of branches for complex cases. Any MAS-graft displacement observed
during the follow-up period can be corrected for by non-invasively re-positioning the devices. We will
accomplish this goal by the design of magnetically activated structures derived from patient AAA
geometries (Specific Aim 1), and by conducting a feasibility study to assess fabrication and deployment
of MAS grafts as well as computational fluid dynamics simulations to compare MAS grafts with the current
grafts used to treat patients (Specific Aim 2).

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10302465
- **Project number:** 1R21EB029733-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** STATE UNIVERSITY NEW YORK STONY BROOK
- **Principal Investigator:** Shikui Chen
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $627,342
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-01 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10302465

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10302465, Magnetically activated structures for minimally invasive endovascular therapy (1R21EB029733-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10302465. Licensed CC0.

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