Physiological Pulsatile Conditions Research Articles

Identification of viscoelastic properties of Dacron aortic grafts subjected to physiological pulsatile flow

In vascular surgery, most synthetic vascular grafts currently used for large vessels replacements are made of Dacron (polyethylene terephthalate; PET). In this study, the dynamic response of these synthetic arterial substitutes to physiological pulsatile conditions is investigated in depth. Experiments were performed on a mock circulatory loop developed to replicate physiological pulsatile pressure and flow. Two different models of Dacron grafts (branched and straight) were tested at various heart rate conditions. Results are presented in terms of cyclic axisymmetric diameter changes, hysteretic loops of the pressure-diameter change, and viscoelastic parameters, such as loss factor and storage modulus that are identified from the hysteresis loop. The amplitude of cyclic diameter change of the Dacron graft was found to be always below 0.2% for all the heart rates considered (from 57 to 187 bpm). The loss factor of the Dacron graft slightly increased with the heart rate; almost no effect of the pulse rate was observed on the storage modulus, which was identified to be around 100 MPa. Both glycerol-water mixture (i.e. the blood analogue fluid) and saline solution were used in the circulatory loop and results did not present significant differences between the two cases. This shows that the effect of the shear load on the dynamic response of Dacron grafts is negligible. A comparison between Dacron vascular implants and human thoracic aortas shows a large mismatch in their viscoelastic mechanical properties.

The effect of thickness measurement on numerical arterial models

Several optical-based techniques for measuring the sample thickness (ST) of soft tissues have been proposed in the literature to overcome the limits of hand-operated procedures. However, ST measurement still remains arbitrary. The stress calculated during an experimental procedure, usually based on a constant thickness value for all samples, cannot be considered representative of the actual stress experienced by the tissue. Therefore, a new optical methodology to measure ST is proposed and compared to four different thickness estimations. A simplified aortic geometry, under physiologic pulsatile conditions, is used to assess the impact of ST measurement on stress predictions. An additional computational model investigates the effect of such thickness values on critical pressure levels that may instigate aneurysm formation in a homogeneous or artificially modified geometry. Comparing the results obtained for the application of a pulsatile load, wall stress values associated to minimum ST are at least 24kPa inferior to maximum ST. Critical pressure values appear to be inversely proportional to ST estimation: simulations, associated to maximum ST, predict aneurysm formation for pressure levels at least 7kPa inferior to minimum ST outcomes. Finally, the role of the strain-energy function used to fit the experimental data is demonstrated to be fundamental for predictions of aneurysm formation.

A numerical approach for simulating fluid structure interaction of flexible thin shells undergoing arbitrarily large deformations in complex domains

We present a new numerical methodology for simulating fluid–structure interaction (FSI) problems involving thin flexible bodies in an incompressible fluid. The FSI algorithm uses the Dirichlet–Neumann partitioning technique. The curvilinear immersed boundary method (CURVIB) is coupled with a rotation-free finite element (FE) model for thin shells enabling the efficient simulation of FSI problems with arbitrarily large deformation. Turbulent flow problems are handled using large-eddy simulation with the dynamic Smagorinsky model in conjunction with a wall model to reconstruct boundary conditions near immersed boundaries. The CURVIB and FE solvers are coupled together on the flexible solid–fluid interfaces where the structural nodal positions, displacements, velocities and loads are calculated and exchanged between the two solvers. Loose and strong coupling FSI schemes are employed enhanced by the Aitken acceleration technique to ensure robust coupling and fast convergence especially for low mass ratio problems. The coupled CURVIB-FE-FSI method is validated by applying it to simulate two FSI problems involving thin flexible structures: 1) vortex-induced vibrations of a cantilever mounted in the wake of a square cylinder at different mass ratios and at low Reynolds number; and 2) the more challenging high Reynolds number problem involving the oscillation of an inverted elastic flag. For both cases the computed results are in excellent agreement with previous numerical simulations and/or experiential measurements. Grid convergence tests/studies are carried out for both the cantilever and inverted flag problems, which show that the CURVIB-FE-FSI method provides their convergence. Finally, the capability of the new methodology in simulations of complex cardiovascular flows is demonstrated by applying it to simulate the FSI of a tri-leaflet, prosthetic heart valve in an anatomic aorta and under physiologic pulsatile conditions.

Physiological pulsatile flow culture conditions to generate functional endothelium on a sulfated silk fibroin nanofibrous scaffold

Physiological pulsatile flow culture conditions to generate functional endothelium on a sulfated silk fibroin nanofibrous scaffold

Vortex Phenomena in Sidewall Aneurysm Hemodynamics: Experiment and Numerical Simulation

We carry out high-resolution laboratory experiments and numerical simulations to investigate the dynamics of unsteady vortex formation across the neck of an anatomic in vitro model of an intracranial aneurysm. A transparent acrylic replica of the aneurysm is manufactured and attached to a pulse duplicator system in the laboratory. Time-resolved three-dimensional three-component velocity measurements are obtained inside the aneurysm sac under physiologic pulsatile conditions. High-resolution numerical simulations are also carried out under conditions replicating as closely as possible those of the laboratory experiment. Comparison of the measured and computed flow fields shows very good agreement in terms of instantaneous velocity fields and three-dimensional coherent structures. Both experiments and numerical simulations show that a well-defined vortical structure is formed near the proximal neck at early systole. This vortical structure is advected by the flow across the aneurysm neck and impinges on the distal wall. The results underscore the complexity of aneurysm hemodynamics and point to the need for integrating high-resolution, time-resolved three-dimensional experimental and computational techniques. The current work emphasizes the importance of vortex formation phenomena at aneurysmal necks and reinforces the findings of previous computational work and recent clinical studies pointing to links between flow pulsatility and aneurysm growth and rupture.

Fluid–structure interaction of deformable aortic prostheses with a bileaflet mechanical valve

Two different aortic prostheses can be used for performing the Bentall procedure: a standard straight graft and the Valsalva graft that better reproduces the aortic root anatomy. The aim of the present work is to study the effect of the graft geometry on the blood flow when a bileaflet mechanical heart valve is used, as well as to evaluate the stress concentration near the suture line where the coronary arteries are connected to graft. An accurate three-dimensional numerical method is proposed, based on the immersed boundary technique. The method accounts for the interactions between the flow and the motion of the rigid leaflets and of the deformable aortic root, under physiological pulsatile conditions. The results show that the graft geometry only slightly influences the leaflets dynamics, while using the Valsalva graft the stress level near the coronary-root anastomoses is about half that obtained using the standard straight graft.

A Novel Culture System Shows that Stem Cells Can be Grown in 3D and Under Physiologic Pulsatile Conditions for Tissue Engineering of Vascular Grafts

Currently available vascular grafts have been limited by variable patency rates, material availability, and immunological rejection. The creation of a tissue-engineered vascular graft (TEVG) from autologous stem cells would potentially overcome these limitations. As a first step in creating a completely autologous TEVG, our objective was to develop a novel system for culturing undifferentiated mouse embryonic stem cells (mESC) in a three-dimensional (3D) configuration and under physiological pulsatile flow and pressure conditions. A bioreactor was created to provide pulsatile conditions to a specially modified four-well Labtek Chamber-Slide culture system. Undifferentiated mESC were either suspended in a 3D Matrigel matrix or suspended only in cell-culture media within the culture system. Pulsatile conditions were applied to the suspended cells and visualized by video microscopy. Undifferentiated mESC were successfully embedded in a 3D Matrigel matrix and could withstand physiological pulsatile conditions. Video microscopy demonstrated that the mESC in the 3D matrix were constrained to the wells of the culture system, moved in unison with the applied flows, and were not washed downstream; this was in contrast to the mESC suspended in media alone. Undifferentiated mESC can be grown in 3D and under pulsatile conditions. We will use these results to study the effects of long-term pulsatile conditions on the differentiation of mESC into endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and fibroblast cells with the long-term goal of creating a completely autologous TEVG.

A new culture system shows that stem cells can be grown in 3-D and under physiologic pulsatile conditions for tissue engineering of vascular grafts

A new culture system shows that stem cells can be grown in 3-D and under physiologic pulsatile conditions for tissue engineering of vascular grafts