Numerical analysis of blood flow distribution in 4

Authors: Chikako Konoura Takanobu Yagi Masanori Nakamura Kiyotaka Iwasaki Yi Qian Shigeo Okuda Akihiro Yoshitake Hideyuki Shimizu Ryohei Yozu Mitsuo Umezu

Publish Date: 2013/02/24

Volume: 16, Issue: 2, Pages: 157-163

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Abstract

Trifurcated arch grafts 3branch grafts are now being used to repair the thoracic aorta in addition to conventional arch grafts 4branch grafts The anatomical shape of the 3branch graft is different from the original vessel so it is necessary for clinical application to evaluate blood flow distribution in the graft to assess whether there is adequate blood flow to the target organs To achieve this we developed a computational fluid dynamics CFD method to evaluate blood flow distribution in the grafts Aortic blood flow was measured by phasecontrast magnetic resonance imaging PCMRI and flow distribution into the branched vessels was obtained The MRI image was used to create a patientspecific image model that represents the geometry of the aortic arch The CFD analysis method was employed to determine a boundary condition of the blood flow analysis in the aorta using a patientspecific image model We also created simplified models of 4branch and 3branch grafts and used our CFD analysis method to compare blood flow distribution among simplified models It was found that blood flow distribution in the descending aorta was 713  for the 4branch graft and 677  for the 3branch graft indicating that a sum of branching flow in the 3branch graft was almost the same as the one in the 4branch graft Therefore there is no major concern about implanting a new 3branch graft Our CFD analysis method may be applied to estimate blood flow distribution of a newly developed vascular graft prior to its clinical use and provide useful information for safe use of the graftThis study was supported by a GrantinAid for Challenging Exploratory Research from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science This work was aided by the project “Biomedical Engineering Research for Advanced Medical Treatment Using Nonclinical Study” of the Research Institute for Science and Engineering 08L01 of Waseda University

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