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Influence of curvature dynamics on pulsatile coronary artery flow in a realistic bifurcation model

Martin Prosi1, Karl Perktold, Zhaohua Ding

  • 1Institute of Mathematics, Graz University of Technology, Steyrergasse 30/3, Graz A-8010, Austria.

Journal of Biomechanics
|September 25, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Dynamic changes in coronary artery curvature significantly impact blood flow (hemodynamics). This study reveals that while vessel branching primarily dictates flow patterns, dynamic curvature, especially during systole, also influences wall shear stress and flow dynamics.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Science
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics

Background:

  • Coronary arteries experience significant dynamic shape changes with each heartbeat.
  • Local artery curvature varies considerably throughout the cardiac cycle.
  • Understanding these variations is crucial for accurate hemodynamic analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To numerically analyze the influence of dynamic curvature on coronary artery hemodynamics.
  • To investigate the interplay between vessel geometry and blood flow.
  • To assess the impact of time-varying curvature on flow patterns and wall shear stress.

Main Methods:

  • A realistic model of the left anterior descending coronary artery bifurcation was created.
  • The model incorporated time-varying curvature based on experimental data.
  • Blood flow was simulated using time-dependent Navier-Stokes equations with the Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian technique.

Main Results:

  • Vessel branching predominantly influences axial velocity profiles near the bifurcation.
  • The effect of dynamic curvature on hemodynamics is generally secondary to branching effects.
  • Curvature's influence increases downstream of the branch and is most pronounced during systole.

Conclusions:

  • Physiologically realistic flow, phased correctly with vessel motion, is essential for accurate coronary artery hemodynamic simulations.
  • Dynamic curvature plays a role, particularly during peak systolic motion, affecting flow patterns and wall shear stress.
  • The study highlights the importance of considering the dynamic nature of coronary arteries in computational models.

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