Cardiovascular Circulatory System Research Articles

An innovative numerical approach to resolve the pulse wave velocity in a healthy thoracic aorta model

Aortic dissection and atherosclerosis are highly fatal diseases. The development of both diseases is closely associated with highly complex haemodynamics. Thus, in predicting the onset of cardiac disease, it is desirable to obtain a detailed understanding of the flowfield characteristics in the human cardiovascular circulatory system. Accordingly, in this study, a numerical model of a normal human thoracic aorta is constructed using the geometry information obtained from a phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (PC-MRI) technique. The interaction between the blood flow and the vessel wall dynamics is then investigated using a coupled fluid–structure interaction (FSI) analysis. The simulations focus specifically on the flowfield characteristics and pulse wave velocity (PWV) of the blood flow. Instead of using a conventional PC-MRI method to measure PWV, we present an innovative application of using the FSI approach to numerically resolve PWV for the assessment of wall compliance in a thoracic aorta model. The estimated PWV for a normal thoracic aorta agrees well with the results obtained via PC-MRI measurement. In addition, simulations which consider the FSI effect yield a lower predicted value of the wall shear stress at certain locations in the cardiac cycle than models which assume a rigid vessel wall. Consequently, the model provides a suitable basis for the future development of more sophisticated methods capable of performing the computer-aided analysis of aortic blood flows.

영구자석-홀 맥진센서를 이용한 양손 동시측정 맥진파형 비교 연구

영구자석과 홀소자로 구비된 두 대의 집게형 맥진기 시제품을 이용하여 비가압 상태에서 양손 요골동맥의 맥진파형을 동시측정한 신호들을 비교 분석하였다. 20대 남성 피실험자 22명을 대상으로 측정된 오른손잡이와 왼손잡이의 두 맥진파형들은 위상차를 갖고 뚜렷하게 구별되었다. 서로 다른 빠름과 늦음으로 인해 두 개의 맥진파형들의 위상차 부호는 맥파전달속도가 오른손과 왼손 혈관의 총길이 보다는 자주 사용하는 팔의 근육 특성에 의존한다는 분석이 가능하였다. Two radially arterial pulses of both hands using the prototype of a clamping clip pulsimeter equipped with permanent magnet and Hall device are compared and analyzed. The phase difference of two pulse wave signals is dominantly presented from the simultaneous measuring clinical pulse wave signals for twenty two male participants at their 20's. It is possible to analyze that the fast and slow pulse wave for right hand and left hand depend on the muscle property of arms rather than the total length of blood vessel due to cardiovascular circulatory system.

A105 全身の血液循環を考慮した血流のマルチスケールシミュレーション(A1-1 生体流体工学1)

A105 全身の血液循環を考慮した血流のマルチスケールシミュレーション(A1-1 生体流体工学1)

Investigation of Pulsatile Flowfield in Healthy Thoracic Aorta Models

Cardiovascular disease is the primary cause of morbidity and mortality in the western world. Complex hemodynamics plays a critical role in the development of aortic dissection and atherosclerosis, as well as many other diseases. Since fundamental fluid mechanics are important for the understanding of the blood flow in the cardiovascular circulatory system of the human body aspects, a joint experimental and numerical study was conducted in this study to determine the distributions of wall shear stress and pressure and oscillatory WSS index, and to examine their correlation with the aortic disorders, especially dissection. Experimentally, the Phase-Contrast Magnetic Resonance Imaging (PC-MRI) method was used to acquire the true geometry of a normal human thoracic aorta, which was readily converted into a transparent thoracic aorta model by the rapid prototyping (RP) technique. The thoracic aorta model was then used in the in vitro experiments and computations. Simulations were performed using the computational fluid dynamic (CFD) code ACE+((R)) to determine flow characteristics of the three-dimensional, pulsatile, incompressible, and Newtonian fluid in the thoracic aorta model. The unsteady boundary conditions at the inlet and the outlet of the aortic flow were specified from the measured flowrate and pressure results during in vitro experiments. For the code validation, the predicted axial velocity reasonably agrees with the PC-MRI experimental data in the oblique sagittal plane of the thoracic aorta model. The thorough analyses of the thoracic aorta flow, WSSs, WSS index (OSI), and wall pressures are presented. The predicted locations of the maxima of WSS and the wall pressure can be then correlated with that of the thoracic aorta dissection, and thereby may lead to a useful biological significance. The numerical results also suggest that the effects of low WSS and high OSI tend to cause wall thickening occurred along the inferior wall of the aortic arch and the anterior wall of the brachiocephalic artery, similar implication reported in a number of previous studies.

The endotelial and vein wall reaction on pulsatile flow and shear stress from arterial ‘jets’ originating from arterioVenous anastomoses (AVAs) studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM)

Cardiovascular disease is the primary cause of morbidity and mortality in the western world. Complex hemodynamics play a critical role in the development of atherosclerosis and the processes of aging, as well as many other disease processes. Biofluid mechanics play a major role in the cardiovascular system and it is important to understand the forces and movement of blood cells and whole blood as well as the interaction between blood cells and the vessel wall. Fundamental fluid mechanical, which are important for the understanding of the blood flow in the cardiovascular circulatory system of the human body aspects are presented. Measurement techniques for model studies such as LDA, ultrasound, and MRI studies will be discussed. Viscosity and flow behavior changes specifically the creation of vortices and flow disturbances can be used to show how medication can influence flow behavior. Experiments have shown that hemodynamics may have a strong influence on the creation of aneurysms and varicose veins. Other factors such as vessel wall structure are also important. In preliminary studies, it has been demonstrated that geometry and elasticity of vessel walls help determine flow behavior. High velocity fluctuations indicate flow disturbances that should be avoided. Health care practitioners must understand fluid dynamic factors such as flow rate ratio, pressure and velocity gradients, and flow behavior, velocity distribution, shear stress on the wall and on blood cells. These mechanical factors are largely responsible for the deposit of blood cells and lipids, a leading cause of atherosclerosis. The interaction between blood cells and of the cells with the vessel, leads to the formation of plaques and agglomerations. These deposits are found predominantly at arterial bends and bifurcations where blood flow is disturbed, where a secondary flow is created, and where flow separation regions are found. Experiments on hemodynamic effects in elastic silicon rubber models of the cardiovascular system with flow wire, stents, or patches for vessel surgery will be discussed. These studies can be important in improving diagnostics and therapeutic applications.

An introduction to biofluid mechanics—basic models and applications

Cardiovascular disease is the primary cause of morbidity and mortality in the western world. Complex hemodynamics play a critical role in the development of atherosclerosis and the processes of aging, as well as many other disease processes. Biofluid mechanics play a major role in the cardiovascular system and it is important to understand the forces and movement of blood cells and whole blood as well as the interaction between blood cells and the vessel wall. Fundamental fluid mechanical, which are important for the understanding of the blood flow in the cardiovascular circulatory system of the human body aspects are presented. Measurement techniques for model studies such as LDA, ultrasound, and MRI studies will be discussed. Viscosity and flow behavior changes specifically the creation of vortices and flow disturbances can be used to show how medication can influence flow behavior. Experiments have shown that hemodynamics may have a strong influence on the creation of aneurysms and varicose veins. Other factors such as vessel wall structure are also important. In preliminary studies, it has been demonstrated that geometry and elasticity of vessel walls help determine flow behavior. High velocity fluctuations indicate flow disturbances that should be avoided. Health care practitioners must understand fluid dynamic factors such as flow rate ratio, pressure and velocity gradients, and flow behavior, velocity distribution, shear stress on the wall and on blood cells. These mechanical factors are largely responsible for the deposit of blood cells and lipids, a leading cause of atherosclerosis. The interaction between blood cells and of the cells with the vessel, leads to the formation of plaques and agglomerations. These deposits are found predominantly at arterial bends and bifurcations where blood flow is disturbed, where a secondary flow is created, and where flow separation regions are found. Experiments on hemodynamic effects in elastic silicon rubber models of the cardiovascular system with flow wire, stents, or patches for vessel surgery will be discussed. These studies can be important in improving diagnostics and therapeutic applications.

Flow in tubes and arteries--a comparison.

The cardiovascular circulatory system of the human body can be compared with a network of tubes. It consists of a pump and a system of branched vessels. The arteries transport the blood to the periphery in a manner similar to that of a water supply network. It is important to know what kind of forces act upon "fittings", bends and bifurcations. It is also essential to assess whether the flow is laminar or turbulent, attached or separated. The flow should be optimized in such a manner as to minimize the drop in pressure. This means that no additional pressure loss due to separation or turbulence should occur, since such losses increase the pump power requirements. The loss appears in heating and acoustic energy. The necessary understanding of blood flow in human vessels is also of great interest to physicians since it is believed that the local flow behavior of blood determines the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. As in tubing systems, deposits in blood vessels are found close to bends and bifurcations. These deposits lead to impaired cerebral circulation and to myocardial infarction. A partial review of recent research into the details of flow behavior (like separation, stagnation and reattachment points) in bends and bifurcations of arterial models is presented. Studies involving steady and pulsatile flow conditions in rigid and elastic models with Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids are shown here. The most important differences between blood vessels and tubes are discussed. This modern biofluidmechanical approach of detailed flow examination is compared with the more classical hemodynamic approach considering only gross features such as pressure loss coefficients.

Computer Model of Cardiovascular Control System Responses to Exercise

A mathematical model and digital computer simulation of the human cardiovascular system and its controls are developed to simulate transient responses to bicycle ergometer exercise. The purpose of the model is to provide a method to analyze cardiovascular control hypotheses which cannot be tested easily in an animal or human. Complex cardiovascular control hypotheses are modeled for the control of heart period, peripheral flow resistances, venous tone, and other controlled variables. Control models are based on the use of proportional neurogenic controllers and linearized systems. Metabolic control models utilize simple mathematical models of oxygen uptake, oxygen deficit, and accumulating metabolites to simulate a transient metabolic state and indicate other chemical factors. Equations describing pulsatile blood flows, pressures, and volumes for 28 model sections of the uncontrolled cardiovascular circulatory system are solved. The circulatory system model is combined with the models of the controlling systems to simulate transient responses to exercise. Other characteristics of the combined model include gravity effects, muscle pumping, venous tone, venous valves, respiratory frequency, and intrathoracic pressure effects. Transient response characteristics and steady model values are presented and compared with experimental data. It is concluded that the neurogenic proportional controller hypothesis, combined with the metabolic control factors, can simulate sub-maximal exercise responses.

Computer Model of Cardiovascular Control System Responses to Exercise

A mathematical model and digital computer simulation of the human cardiovascular system and its controls are developed to simulate transient responses to bicycle ergometer exercise. The purpose of the model is to provide a method to analyze cardiovascular control hypotheses which cannot be tested easily in an animal or human.Complex cardiovascular control hypotheses are modeled for the control of heart period, peripheral flow resistances, venous tone, and other controlled variables. Control models are based on the use of proportional neurogenic controllers and linearized systems. Metabolic control models utilize simple mathematical models of oxygen uptake, oxygen deficit, and accumulating metabolites to simulate a transient metabolic state and indicate other chemical factors.Equations describing pulsatile blood flows, pressures, and volumes for 28 model sections of the uncontrolled cardiovascular circulatory system are solved. The circulatory system model is combined with the models of the controlling systems to simulate transient responses to exercise. Other characteristics and steady model values are presented and compared with experimental data. It is concluded that the neurogenic proportional controller hypothesis, combined with the metabolic control factors, can simulate submaximal exercise responses.