A BENCHTOP PLATFORM FOR EVALUATING SEPTOSTOMY IN AORTIC DISSECTION.

Aortic dissection is a major aortic catastrophe associated with significant morbidity and mortality. While Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair (TEVAR) is the standard treatment for chronic type B aortic dissection cases, a persistent fibrotic septum often prevents complete false lumen exclusion, leading to continued pressurization and treatment failure. Endovascular septostomy is increasingly explored as an adjunctive therapy to modify this septum and promote aortic remodeling. However, current techniques carry risks such as embolic debris generation, thermal injury, and unpredictable tearing, complications that are difficult to quantify or even detect in vivo. To address these limitations, we developed a benchtop platform designed to evaluate septostomy strategies under controlled, physiologically relevant conditions. A model dissected aorta with a representative septum is integrated into a pulsatile flow loop equipped with pressure and flow sensors, thermometry, and filtration to capture debris. This setup enables the precise measurement of hemodynamic changes, thermal effects, and embolic burden, alongside visual assessment of procedural efficacy. By creating a setup that mimics physiological conditions, this platform enables the direct comparison of different septostomy methods and supports the development of improved endovascular devices.