Construction of arterial networks considering the Fahraeus-Lindqvist effect

Abstract

Arterial networks can be generated from lumped parameter, anatomical, fractal and optimized models. Inside the optimized class, the computational method of Constrained Constructive Optimization (CCO) is able to generate models that mimic important properties of real coronary arterial trees. This work contributes with an algorithm based on CCO method to create arterial networks taking into account the Fahraeus-Lindqvist effect during the growth process. This effect is associated with the viscosity of the blood changes with the diameter of the vessel nonlinearly. Similarly to the CCO, in this algorithm, a arterial tree is represented as dichotomously branching system of straight cylindrical tubes, with resistance and flow conditions calculated by Poiseuille’s law. At bifurcations, the radii of parent and daughter segments obey a power law and the process of growing the tree is governed by minimizing total intravascular volume. The models obtained by the algorithm presented here have shown to adequately reproduce the distribution of the vessel radii of real coronary arterial trees when compared with experimental data.