Experimental and computational studies on the flow fields in aortic aneurysms associated with deployment of AAA stent-grafts

Pulsatile flow fields in rigid abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) models were investigated numerically, and the simulation results are found in good agreement with particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements. There are one or more vortexes in the AAA bulge, and a fairly high wall shear stress exists at the distal end, and thus the AAA is in danger of rupture. Medical treatment consists of inserting a vascular stent-graft in the AAA, which would decrease the blood impact to the inner walls and reduce wall shear stress so that the rupture could be prevented. A new computational model, based on porous medium model, was developed and results are documented. Therapeutic effect of the stent-graft was verified numerically with the new model. The project was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (10672090). The English text was polished by Yunming Chen.     

LDV measurements in lateral model aneurysms of various sizes

 Laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV) measurements are presented of three-dimensional flow fields in lateral model aneurysms arising from a straight parent vessel at a 90° angle. The flow considered was pulsatile and the aneurysm wall was rigid. The mean, peak, and minimal Reynolds numbers based on the bulk average velocity and diameter of the parent vessel were 550, 790, and 375, respectively. Comparisons among present in vitro studies, previous in vitro studies, computational simulations, and in vivo studies were made. It was found that the inflow angle into the lateral aneurysm, the maximum wall shear stress acting on the distal lip of the lateral aneurysm, and the intra-aneurysmal vortical motion increased with decreasing aneurysm size. This fact together with the impingement bifurcation of the inflow at the aneurysm dome provide possible hemodynamic factors for the rupture of the lateral aneurysm at small critical size. Received: 15 March 1996/Accepted: 13 March 1997     

动脉瘤内流场以及瘤体尺寸的影响的数值研究

采用计算流体动力学(CFD)数值模拟的方法,在周期性脉动速度入流条件下,建立刚性动脉瘤模型并研究了动脉瘤模型中流场的特征(速度、压力、壁面剪切应力)。得到了脉动入流一个周期内流场特征的变化规律,发现动脉瘤的后端有相当高的压力和壁面剪切应力,而且高压力和壁面剪切应力分布的位置几乎是固定的。探讨了不同动脉瘤尺寸对内部流场的影响,动脉瘤的直径与瘤体长度之比越大,瘤壁承受的剪切应力就越大,动脉瘤破裂的危险性就越高。     

Simulation of unsteady laminar flow in models of terminal aneurysm of the basilar artery

Blood flow dynamics play an important role in the pathogenesis and treatment of intracranial aneurysms. The evaluation of the velocity field in the aneurysm dome and neck is important for the correct placement of endovascular coils, in addition the temporal and spatial variations of wall shear stress in the aneurysm are correlated with its growth and rupture. The present numerical investigation describes the hemodynamics in two models of terminal aneurysm of the basilar artery. Aneurysm models with an aspect ratio of 1.0 and 1.67 were studied. Each model was subject to a steady, sinusoidal and physiologically representative waveform of inflow for a mean Reynolds number of 560. Symmetric and asymmetric outflow conditions in the branches were also studied.

The three-dimensional continuity and the Navier-Stokes equations for incompressible, unsteady laminar flow with Newtonian properties were solved with a commercial software using non structured grids with 61334 and 65961 cells for models 1 and 2, respectively. The grids were primarily composed of tetrahedral elements.

The intra-aneurysmal flow was unsteady for all input conditions and in both models, the flow always showed a complex vortex structure. The inflow and outflow zones in the aneurysm neck were determined. The wall shear stress on the aneurysm showed large temporal and spatial variations. The asymmetric outflow increased the wall shear stress in both models.     

Hemodynamic analysis of intracranial aneurysms using phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging and computational fluid dynamics

Additional hemodynamic parameters are highly desirable in the clinical management of intracranial aneurysm rupture as static medical images cannot demonstrate the blood flow within aneurysms. There are two ways of obtaining the hemodynamic information—by phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging(PCMRI) and computational fluid dynamics(CFD). In this paper, we compared PCMRI and CFD in the analysis of a stable patient's specific aneurysm.The results showed that PCMRI and CFD are in good agreement with each other. An additional CFD study of two stable and two ruptured aneurysms revealed that ruptured aneurysms have a higher statistical average blood velocity,wall shear stress, and oscillatory shear index(OSI) within the aneurysm sac compared to those of stable aneurysms.Furthermore, for ruptured aneurysms, the OSI divides the positive and negative wall shear stress divergence at the aneurysm sac.     

Pulsatile flows in a lateral aneurysm anchored on a stented and curved parent vessel

We present particle tracking velocimetry measurements and flow visualization of pulsatile flow fields in a stented cerebrovascular lateral aneurysm model with a wide ostium anchored on a curved parent vessel. Among the stent parameters, the blocking ratioC _α ranging from 0% to 75% was selected to study its effect on the changes of intra-aneurysmal hemodynamics for the reference of minimally invasive endovascular aneurysm treatment. The Womersley number was 3.9 and the mean, peak, and minimal Reynolds numbers based on the bulk average velocity and diameter of the parent vessel were 600, 850, and 300, respectively. The results are characterized in terms of velocity vector field, coded streak images, region averaged velocity, vorticity, and wall shear stress. A critical range ofC _α related to the inflow location as well as the shape and number of intra-aneurysmal vortices is identified. The intra-aneurysmal flow activity, vortex strength, and wall shear stress are found to decrease with increasingC _α. Among theC _α examined,C _α=75% is the most favorable in attenuating the risk of aneurysmal rupture and promoting intra-aneurysmal thrombus.     

Comparison of haemodynamics in cerebral aneurysms of different sizes located in the ophthalmic artery

Haemodynamics plays an important role in the progression and rupture of cerebral aneurysms. The temporal and spatial variations of the wall shear stress in the aneurysmal sac are hypothesized to be correlated with its growth and rupture. In addition, the assessment of the velocity field in the aneurysm dome and neck is important for the correct placement of endovascular coils. This work describes the flow dynamics in patient‐specific models of saccular aneurysms of different sizes located in the ophthalmic artery. The models were obtained from three‐dimensional rotational angiography image data and blood flow dynamics was studied under physiologically representative waveform of inflow. The three‐dimensional continuity and momentum equations for unsteady laminar flow were solved with commercial software using nonstructured fine grid sizes. The intra‐aneurysmal flows show complex vortex structures that change during one pulsatile cycle. A relation between the aneurysm aspect ratio and the mean wall shear stress on the aneurysmal sac is showed. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Non‐Newtonian blood flow dynamics in a right internal carotid artery with a saccular aneurysm

Flow dynamics plays an important role in the pathogenesis and treatment of cerebral aneurysms. The temporal and spatial variations of wall shear stress in the aneurysm are hypothesized to be correlated with its growth and rupture. In addition, the assessment of the velocity field in the aneurysm dome and neck is important for the correct placement of endovascular coils. This work describes the flow dynamics in a patient‐specific model of carotid artery with a saccular aneurysm under Newtonian and non‐Newtonian fluid assumptions. The model was obtained from three‐dimensional rotational angiography image data and blood flow dynamics was studied under physiologically representative waveform of inflow. The three‐dimensional continuity and momentum equations for incompressible and unsteady laminar flow were solved with a commercial software using non‐structured fine grid with 283 115 tetrahedral elements. The intra‐aneurysmal flow shows complex vortex structure that change during one pulsatile cycle. The effect of the non‐Newtonian properties of blood on the wall shear stress was important only in the arterial regions with high velocity gradients, on the aneurysmal wall the predictions with the Newtonian and non‐Newtonian blood models were similar. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Biomechanical Simulation to Compare the Blood Hemodynamics and Cerebral Aneurysm Rupture Risk in Patients with Different Aneurysm Necks

In this study, one normal subject and two patients suffering from a cerebral aneurysm with circular and elliptical necks are analyzed by using the fluid-structure interaction (FSI) method. Although the blood hemodynamics parameters increase after the occurrence of the disease, the largest increase is in the wall shear stress (by a factor of 4.1–6.5) as compared to the normal subject. The increase in these parameters for patients with a circular neck is more pronounced than that with an elliptical neck. The blood flow becomes slightly more turbulent after the occurrence of the cerebral aneurysm, though it still remains in the range of the laminar flow and the pulsatility of the blood flow in patients is 28–45% greater than that of the normal subject. Finally, the results show that the risk of vessel rupture in the cerebral aneurysm with a circular neck is 40.8% higher than that in the case of the cerebral aneurysm with an elliptical neck.     

FLOW STRUCTURE AND VARIATION OF WALL SHEAR STRESS IN ASYMMETRICAL ARTERIAL BRANCH

In the present study, the flow structure such as the velocity profile and the wall shear stress in an asymmetrical arterial branch in laminar steady flow has been experimentally studied. In the branch model, the daughter tube asymmetrically bifurcates from the parent tube at 45°. The axial and the transverse velocity components have been measured by two-dimensional laser Doppler velocimetry, and the wall shear stress is measured by the electrochemical method. Furthermore, the wall shear stress estimated from the velocity profile is compared with that measured by the electrochemical method. Consequently, it has been clarified that, as it approaches the entrance of the daughter tube, the core flow deflects into the daughter tube, and the variation of wall shear stress along the proximal wall results from the secondary motion which is transferred from the parent tube to the daughter tube.     

Blood flow dynamics and fluid–structure interaction in patient‐specific bifurcating cerebral aneurysms

Hemodynamics plays an important role in the progression and rupture of cerebral aneurysms. The current work describes the blood flow dynamics and fluid–structure interaction in seven patient‐specific models of bifurcating cerebral aneurysms located in the anterior and posterior circulation regions of the circle of Willis. The models were obtained from 3D rotational angiography image data, and blood flow dynamics and fluid–structure interaction were studied under physiologically representative waveform of inflow. The arterial wall was assumed to be elastic, isotropic and homogeneous. The flow was assumed to be laminar, non‐Newtonian and incompressible. In one case, the effects of different model suppositions and boundary conditions were reported in detail. The fully coupled fluid and structure models were solved with the finite elements package ADINA. The vortex structure, pressure, wall shear stress (WSS), effective stress and displacement of the aneurysm wall showed large variations, depending on the morphology of the artery, aneurysm size and position. The time‐averaged WSS, effective stress and displacement at the aneurysm fundus vary between 0.17 and 4.86 Pa, 4.35 and 170.2 kPa and 0.16 and 0.74 mm, respectively, for the seven patient‐specific models of bifurcating cerebral aneurysms. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Laser photochromic velocimetry estimation of the vorticity and pressure field – two-dimensional flow in a curved vessel

 Laser photochromic velocimetry was successfully used to determine details of a steady two-dimensional flow field. In the plane of symmetry of a 90° curved tube at a Reynolds number of 250, the axial and radial velocity fields were measured using laser photochromic velocimetry combined with a technique involving interpolation of the photochromic data. The wall shear stress, vorticity, and pressure field were also estimated. The experimental results were compared with those from numerical simulation. The agreement was remarkably good lending validity to the interpolation method used for this flow field. Received: 29 May 1997 / Accepted: 13 November 1997     

Comparison between computational fluid dynamics,fluid–structure interaction and computational structural dynamics predictions of flow-induced wall mechanics in an anatomically realistic cerebral aneurysm model

Haemodynamically induced stress plays an important role in the progression and rupture of cerebral aneurysms. The current work describes computational fluid dynamics (CFD), fluid–structure interaction (FSI) and computational structural dynamics (CSD) simulations in an anatomically realistic model of a carotid artery with two saccular cerebral aneurysms in the ophthalmic region. The model was obtained from three-dimensional (3D) rotational angiographic imaging data. CFD and FSI were studied under a physiologically representative waveform of inflow. The arterial wall was assumed elastic or hyperelastic, as a 3D solid or as a shell depending on the type of modelling used. The flow was assumed to be laminar, non-Newtonian and incompressible. The CFD, FSI and CSD models were solved with the finite elements package ADINA. Predictions of velocity field and wall shear stress (WSS) on the aneurysms made using CFD and FSI were compared. The CSD model of the aneurysms using complete geometry was compared with isolated aneurysm models. Additionally, the effects of hypertensive pressure on CSD aneurysm models are also reported. The vortex structure, WSS, effective stress, strain and displacement of the aneurysm walls showed differences, depending on the type of modelling used.     

Rheology of pulp suspensions using ultrasonic Doppler velocimetry

Conventional rheometry coupled with local velocity measurements (ultrasonic Doppler velocimetry) are used to study the flow behaviour of various commercial pulp fibre suspensions at fibre mass concentrations ranging from 1 to 5 wt.%. Experimental data obtained using a stress-controlled rheometer by implementing a vane in large cup geometry exhibits apparent yield stress values which are lower than those predicted before mainly due to existence of apparent slip. Pulp suspensions exhibit shear-thinning behaviour up to a high shear rate value after which Newtonian behaviour prevails. Local velocity measurements prove the existence of significant wall slippage at the vane surface. The velocimetry technique is also used to study the influence of pH and lignin content on the flow behaviour of pulp suspensions. The Herschel–Bulkley constitutive equation is used to fit the local steady-state velocity profiles and to predict the steady-state flow curves obtained by conventional rheometry. Consistency between the various sets of data is found for all suspensions studied, including apparent yield stress, apparent wall slip and complete flow curves.     

Hydrodynamics study in a plane ultrafiltration module using an electrochemical method and particle image velocimetry visualization

 The wall shear stress is determined at the surface of a plane sheet of Plexiglas, taking the place of a membrane, using an electrochemical method. Several microelectrodes are mounted flush to this plane plate, and maps of shear stress are determined for two inlet and outlet configurations and three channel heights. The heterogeneity of the wall shear stress is observed for both configurations. Furthermore, the study of the turbulence features of the flow shows a decreasing fluctuating rate of velocity gradient when the channel height is decreased. The wall velocity gradients and turbulent intensity rates analysis are confirmed by a flow visualization using the particle image velocimetry method. Received: 25 September 2000 / Accepted: 23 April 2001     

Modeling on monitoring the growth and rupture assessment of saccular aneurysms

The unpredictable rupture of saccular aneurysms especially of the intracerebral aneurysm is a knotty problem that always results in high mortality.Traditional diagnosis of medical images,which gives the aneurysm size and compares with a speculated critical size from clinical statistics,was demonstrated inadequate to forecasting rupture.Here,we propose a new detecting strategy that uses a dielectric elastomer(DE)capacitance sensor to monitor the growth of saccular aneurysms and deliver both the wall stress and geometric parameters.Based on the elastic growth theory together with the finite deformation analyses,the correlation between the real-time output capacitance of the DE sensor and the wall stress and/or geometry of an aneurysm is derived.Compared to clinic statistics and biomechanics simulations,the wall stress and geometric size may be used as combined indicators to assess the rupture risk of a saccular aneurysm.Numerical results show that an output relative capacitance of 30 indicates a high risk of rupture.Finally,the sensitivity and resolution of the DE sensor are proved adequately high for monitoring the growth state and evaluating the rupture risk of a saccular aneurysm.     

Wall shear stress measurement in a turbulent pipe flow using ultrasound Doppler velocimetry

A turbulent boundary layer of a water flow is investigated by means of pulsed ultrasound Doppler velocimetry. The advantage of this method is the acquisition of complete velocity profiles along the sound propagation line within very short time intervals. The shear stress velocity, used for normalizing the velocity profiles, was determined by fitting the profiles to the universal profiles in a turbulent boundary layer obtained from Prandtl's mixing length theory. A coordinate transformation in the near-wall region is proposed to allocate the velocity data to "true" wall distances. From the experimental values of the wall shear stress velocity, the friction factors for a turbulent pipe flow are calculated and compared to the Blasius law. The overall error in measurement was estimated to NJ.4%.     

The interactions between bloodstream and vascular structure on aortic dissecting aneurysmal model: A numerical study

Stent-graft implantation is an important means of clinical treatment for aortic dissecting aneurysm （ADA）. However, researches on fluid dynamics effects of stent were rare. Computer simulation was used to investigate the interactions between bloodstream and vascular structure in a stented ADA, which endures the periodic pulse velocity and pressure. We obtained and analyzed the flow velocity distribution, the wall displacement and wall stress in the ADA. By comparing the different results between a non-stented and a stented ADA, we found that the insertion of a vascular graft can make the location of maximum stress and displacement move from the aneurysm lumen wall to the artery wall, accompanied with a greatly decrease in value. These results imply that the placement of a stent-graft of any kind to oc-clude ADA will result in a decreased chance of rupture.     

Investigation of the effects of two parallel wires' non-uniform magnetic field on heat and biomagnetic fluid flow in an aneurysm

ABSTRACT

In this paper, effects of two wires magnetic field on heat transfer and biomagnetic fluid flow in an aneurysm have been investigated using the ferrohydrodynamics model. Using the finite volume method and the SIMPLE algorithm, the governing equations have been discretised. Simulations have been carried out for both conditions of wires in the same and opposite directions and different magnetic numbers of 41 and 82. Results show that the magnetic field causes a decrease in heat transfer of blood flow towards the walls. Moreover, major energy loss or pressure drop, arising from mean wall shear stress, decreases but local or minor energy loss, arising from aneurysm vortexes, increases. Furthermore, risk factors of aneurysm rupture is decreased under the effect of the magnetic field. The effective contact surface between drug-coated magnetic nanoparticles and the aneurysm tissue may increase and residence time of drug on the cells of the region would decrease.     

Flowfields in lateral aneurysm models arising from parent vessels with different curvatures using PTV

 Pulsatile and steady flowfields in a lateral aneurysm model arising from the parent vessel with radius of curvature to vessel diameter ratios of 2.5, 5, and ∞ are presented in terms of particle tracking velocimetry (PTV) measurements and flow visualization. The steady-flow case has a Reynolds number of 600 and the pulsatile-flow one has a Womersley number of 3.9 and Reynolds number of 600. It is found that there exist two opposite vortices and a single vortex in the aneurysms arising from a straight and a curved parent vessel, respectively. The intra-aneurysmal flow velocity, vorticity, and wall shear stresses increase with increasing curvature of the parent vessel. It is suggested from the present results that the lateral aneurysm arising from a straight or small-curvature parent vessel has a tendency to thrombosis whereas the lateral aneurysm arising from a large-curvature parent vessel is more risky. Received: 14 August 1996/Accepted: 17 January 1997