Effects of blood flow patent and cross-sectional area on hemodynamic into patient-specific cerebral aneurysm via fluid-structure interaction method : A review

Fluid-structure interaction (FSI) simulation is carried out to investigate the blood flow analysis in different patient-specific cerebral aneurysms. In this study, we reviewed the studies done on the numerical simulation of blood flow in patient-specific aneurysm by using FSI analysis methods. Based on these studies, the wall shear stress (WSS) plays an important role in the development, growth, and rupture of the cerebral aneurysm. Prediction of the hemodynamic forces near the aneurysmal site helps to understand the formation and rupture of the aneurysms better. Then most of the aneurysms studied are located in the middle cerebral artery (MCA). In the existing considered, many researchers are more familiar with the experimental method in studies of blood flow through cerebral aneurysm compared to the numerical method. Nevertheless, numerical simulation of patient-specific cerebral aneurysms can give a better understanding and clear visualization of WSS distribution and fluid flow pattern in the aneurysm region

A perspective review: Technical study of combining phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging and computational fluid dynamics for blood flow on carotid bifurcation artery

Nowadays, the knowledge of precise blood flow patterns in human blood vessels, especially focusing on Carotid Bifurcations Artery (CBA)area by using computational and modern techniques are very important to develop our understanding regarding to human diseases for both essential research and clinical treatment. This paper tends to discuss the progress regarding to the integration between Phase Contrast Magnetic Resonance Imaging (PC-MRI) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD),specifically to the human diseases. We technically define the model geometry reconstruction, review both PC-MRI and CFD methods to create mesh models, obtain boundary conditions, define the governing equations in CFD, define the material properties, and assumptions used in running the CFD simulations. Detailed information on PC-MRI and CFD is provided in tables, such as the MRI setup, software used, CFD model setup, measurement parameter, and summary of the result contribution from each reviewed article. Numerous fusions between PC-MRI and CFD are specified by summarizing the investigation carried out by significant group’s research, reviewing the important outcomes, and discussing the techniques, drawbacks and possibilities for further study. We hope that this perspective analysis will encourage a fusion of PC-MRI and CFD research contributing to continuous advancement of human health with close cooperation and collaboration among clinicians and engineers

Device Design for Inducing Aneurysm-Susceptible Flow Conditions Onto Endothelial Cells

Aneurysms are a deadly asymptomatic cardiovascular disease that may occur especially where there are bends and bifurcations in the cerebral vasculature. A region where these features are especially prominent is the Circle of Willis (COW) in the brain, where aneurysms are known to occur. In the carotid artery, which feeds into the COW, the Reynolds number of blood flow is typically around 200-500. Even with such a low Reynolds number, turbulent-like flow, or tortuous flow, can occur due to bends, bifurcations and highly pulsatile flow which lower the effective Reynolds number where tortuous flow can occur. Highly pulsatile flow is unsteady flow that is high in magnitude and changes over time. Endothelial cells (ECs) line the inner wall of the blood vessel and experience the friction force of blood flow. This work is focused on designing a device that can expose ECs to forces they would undergo in an aneurysm-susceptible site. This is accomplished by exposing ECs to physiologically relevant Wall Shear Stress (WSS) and vibrations simultaneously. Vibrations in the body occur due to flow separation at the vessel wall, which leads to pressure changes. These pressure changes induce vibrations onto ECs. The fluid flow in the designed Parallel Plate Flow Chamber (PPFC) is laminar to induce a predictable WSS onto the cells, while the vibrations will induce a rapid cyclical force to simulate pressure fluctuations that may occur in vivo. The aneurysm-susceptible flow will simulate a more turbulent-like flow in the carotid artery; higher maximum WSS (around 2.2 Pa) with vibrations. The aneurysm-protective flow will have a lower WSS maximum (around 0.5 Pa). The PPFC, made of polycarbonate, is small and light enough to be conveniently vibrated using an electromagnetic vibration stage. The PPFC can be driven by a syringe or peristaltic pump, allowing for either steady or transient waveforms. The PPFC’s fluid domain will not change upon vibration, isolating the effect of vibration on the cells. Also, two side-by-side glass slide slots were included to allow for both protein and mRNA quantification from the same experiment, increasing experimental efficiency and flow-related consistency between the two cell areas. Simulations using ANSYS Fluent verified the flow field and WSS waveform on the cells for the designed geometry for 3D and 2D cases, as well as verified equal WSS values throughout all areas of ECs. Then, Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) was done to verify the predicted flow rate in the machined PPFC given a steady flow rate driven by a syringe pump. Preliminary cell experiments were performed in an incubator under flow and vibration conditions to demonstrate cell survivability

The LifeV library: engineering mathematics beyond the proof of concept

LifeV is a library for the finite element (FE) solution of partial differential equations in one, two, and three dimensions. It is written in C++ and designed to run on diverse parallel architectures, including cloud and high performance computing facilities. In spite of its academic research nature, meaning a library for the development and testing of new methods, one distinguishing feature of LifeV is its use on real world problems and it is intended to provide a tool for many engineering applications. It has been actually used in computational hemodynamics, including cardiac mechanics and fluid-structure interaction problems, in porous media, ice sheets dynamics for both forward and inverse problems. In this paper we give a short overview of the features of LifeV and its coding paradigms on simple problems. The main focus is on the parallel environment which is mainly driven by domain decomposition methods and based on external libraries such as MPI, the Trilinos project, HDF5 and ParMetis. Dedicated to the memory of Fausto Saleri.Comment: Review of the LifeV Finite Element librar

Laser speckle contrast imaging for intraoperative monitoring of cerebral blood flow

Ensuring adequate blood flow during surgical procedures is crucial, as prolonged ischemia can result in tissue death and lead to poor clinical outcomes. This is especially important during neurosurgery, since the brain relies on a constant supply of cerebral blood flow (CBF) to maintain normal function. Intraoperative blood flow monitoring tools are essential to detect ischemia in a timely manner, and allow surgical correction before the onset of irreversible brain injury. Laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) is an optical imaging method that provides blood flow maps with high spatiotemporal resolution, and overcomes many of the limitations of current intraoperative monitoring technologies. The objective of this dissertation is to demonstrate that LSCI is an effective tool for blood flow monitoring during neurosurgery, and to optimize and improve LSCI technology for clinical use. This research has two primary elements: assessing the LSCI instrumentation components in a controlled laboratory setting, and evaluating the clinical performance of LSCI during neurosurgery. The laboratory study aims to determine the optimal specifications for the clinical instrument design, using controlled static and microfluidic flow experiments. Two of the main components of the LSCI instrument are the camera used for recording, and the laser used for coherent illumination of the tissue. Thus, a broad camera and laser comparison was performed spanning a wide array of available hardware options to determine which specifications are the most important for reliable and highly sensitive flow measurements. The two-phase clinical study aims to demonstrate the performance and utility of LSCI in a neurosurgical setting as a potential tool for real-time, continuous, and noninvasive image guidance. These studies demonstrate that LSCI can produce blood flow maps consistent with expected physiological trends, and show the impact of instrument design and image acquisition techniques on image quality and quantitative flow assessment. The results from both the laboratory and clinical studies can be used to design a more sensitive and robust LSCI system, which increases its value as an intraoperative tool for monitoring blood flow. LSCI has the potential to be the next generation of neurosurgical image guidance for blood flow visualization, and the work presented in this dissertation can accelerate its clinical adoption.Biomedical Engineerin

Enhancing magnetic resonance imaging with computational fluid dynamics

Quantitative assessment of haemodynamics has been utilised for better understanding of cardiac function and assisting diagnostics of cardiovascular diseases. To study haemodynamics, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) are widely used because of their non-invasive nature. It has been demonstrated that the two approaches are complementary to each other with their own advantages and limitations. Four dimensional cardiovascular magnetic resonance (4D Flow CMR) imaging enables direct measurement of blood flow velocity in vivo while spatial and temporal resolutions as well as region of image acquisition are limited to achieve a detailed assessment of the haemodynamics. CFD, on the other hand, is a powerful tool that has the potential to expand the image-obtained velocity fields with some problem-specific assumptions such as rigid arterial walls. We suggest a novel approach in which 4D Flow CMR and CFD are integrated synergistically in order to obtain an enhanced 4D Flow CMRI (EMRI). The enhancement will consist in overcoming the spatial-resolution limitations of the original 4D Flow CMRI, which will enable more accurate quantification of flow dependent bio-mechanical quantities (e.g. endothelial shear stress) as well as non-invasive estimation of blood pressure. At the same time, it will reduce a number of assumptions in conventional haemodynamic CFD such as in/outflow conditions including the effect of valves, the impact of patient-specific vessel wall motion and the effect of the surrounding tissues. The approach was first tested on a 2D portion of a pipe, to understand the behaviour of the parameters of the model in this novel framework. Afterwards the methodology was tested on patient specific data, to apply it to the analysis of blood flow in a patient specific human aorta, in 2D. The outcomes of EMRI are assessed by comparing the computed velocities with the 4D Flow CMR one. A fundamental step to allow the translation to clinics of this methodology was the validation. The study was performed on an idealised-simplified model of the human aortic arch – a U bend – with a sinusoidal inflow applied by a pump. Firstly, phase resolved particle image velocimetry (PIV) (an experimental technique enables high spatial-temporal resolution) was performed in 5 different time points of the pump cycle, using a blood alike fluid with the same refractive index matched of the clear silicon phantom, and seeded with silver coated hollow glass spheres. Real time 4D Flow CMR was then performed on the phantom with MRI. Lastly using the pump flow rate and the phantom geometry, a computation of the flow through the U bend was conducted using Ansys CFX. The flow patterns obtained from the 3 methods were compared in the middle plane of the phantom. The methodology was then applied to study a patient specific aorta in 3D, and retrieve flow patterns and flow dependent parameters. Finally, the validated methodology was applied to study atherogenesis, and in particular to investigate the relation between EMRI retrieved flow quantities (e.g. wall shear stress (WSS)) and temperature heterogeneity. A carotid artery phantom was realised and studied with CFD, MRT and EMRI. All the results demonstrate that EMRI preserves flow structures while correcting for experimental noise. Therefore it can provide better insights of the haemodynamics of cardiovascular problems, overcoming the limitations of 4D Flow CMR and CFD, even when considering a small region of interest. These findings were supported by the validation experiment that showed how EMRI retrieved flow patterns were much more consistent with the one measured with high resolution PIV, compensating for 4D Flow CMR errors. These findings lead to the application to the atherogenesis problem, allowing higher resolution flow patterns, more suitable to be compared to the temperature distribution and highlighted how flow patterns exert an influence on the temperature distribution on the vessel wall. EMRI confirmed its potential to provide more accurate non-invasive estimation of flow derived and flow dependent quantities and become a novel diagnostic tool

In Vitro and Computational Analyses of Blood Flow at Aortoiliac Bifurcation for Patients with Atherosclerotic Plaque Treated with Endovascular Procedures

This research has developed an appropriate approach allowing for more accurate assessment of haemodynamic changes following implantation of endovascular stent graft to treat patients with occlusive aortoiliac disease. Two different endovascular techniques involving the use of different types of stent grafts were analysed and compared with regard to haemodynamics associated with these techniques. Results improved understanding of the flow characteristics of these endovascular techniques