A volumetric model for growth of arterial walls with arbitrary geometry and loads

Abstract

Stress and deformation in arterial wall tissue are factors which may influence significantly its response and evolution. In this work we develop models based on nonlinear elasticity and finite element numerical solutions for the mechanical behaviour and the remodelling of the soft tissue of arteries, including anisotropy induced by the presence of collagen fibres. Remodelling and growth in particular constitute important features in order to interpret stenosis and atherosclerosis. The main object of this work is to model accurately volumetric growth, induced by fluid shear stress in the intima and local wall stress in arteries with patient-specific geometry and loads. The model is implemented in a nonlinear finite element setting which may be applied to realistic 3D geometries obtained from in vivo measurements. The capabilities of this method are demonstrated in several examples. Firstly a stenotic process on an idealised geometry induced by a non-uniform shear stress distribution is considered. Following the growth of a right coronary artery from an in vivo reconstructed geometry is presented. Finally, experimental measurements for growth under hypertension for rat carotid arteries are modelled.