Visualizing Stent Malposition & Arterial Perforation
The Challenge: A patient suffered a catastrophic arterial perforation following the implantation of a cardiovascular stent. The plaintiff’s counsel alleged a design defect or manufacturing flaw in the stent led to its malposition and subsequent injury. The defense claimed proper surgical technique and patient-specific factors were at fault.
Our Objective: Uncovering the Mechanical Mechanism of FailureVerbal explanations and 2D angiograms were insufficient to demonstrate the subtle mechanical failure within the dynamic environment of the heart. Trial Graphics 360 was retained by Plaintiff’s Counsel to perform a forensic reconstruction of the stent deployment, visualizing the precise mechanism of malposition and arterial perforation.
The Forensic Solution: Integrating Engineering with Anatomy
Using the patient’s pre- and post-operative CT angiography (DICOM data) and the manufacturer's stent specifications, we built a patient-specific 3D model of the affected coronary artery and the implanted device.
Stent Deployment Reconstruction
The animation meticulously reconstructed the stent's deployment, illustrating how a subtle design flaw allowed for premature expansion in a critical segment of the artery.
Arterial Wall Interaction
We visualized the stent's expansion dynamics, demonstrating how it failed to conform to the vessel wall, leading to a "fish-mouthing" effect and malposition that created abnormal stress points.
Mechanism of Perforation
The animation then detailed the precise moment and manner in which the malpositioned stent's strut perforated the arterial wall, triggering a cascade of complications.
Diagrammatic Clarity
Key anatomical landmarks and the precise points of failure were highlighted with clear, synchronized diagrams and textual annotations, guiding the jury through the complex sequence of events.
Lead Counsel Testimonial
"Dr. Ho's ability to show the exact mechanism of stent failure, from deployment to perforation, was a game-changer. The heart animation, with its clear diagrams, made complex cardiac mechanics simple for everyone to understand. It forced a settlement we wouldn't have achieved otherwise."
Lead Defense Partner, [Firm Name Redacted]
The Strategic OutcomeResult: Significant Pre-Trial Settlement for Plaintiff
The forensic animation became an undeniable piece of evidence during mediation and expert discovery. The visual clarity of the mechanical failure shifted the burden of proof dramatically.
Expert Adoption
The plaintiff's cardiovascular surgery expert and biomedical engineer both relied heavily on the animation to explain the technical failure to opposing counsel and the mediator.
The "Clear Path" to Dismissal
Faced with a precise 3D reconstruction that integrated both the patient's anatomy and the device's engineering, the defense could not credibly refute the clear visual evidence of the stent’s malposition and its direct role in the arterial perforation.
Negotiation Leverage
Faced with a precise 3D reconstruction that integrated both the patient's anatomy and the device's engineering, the defense could not credibly refute the clear visual evidence of the stent’s malposition and its direct role in the arterial perforation.