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Updated: May 21, 2026
Ultrasound-based Pulse Wave Velocity Evaluation in Mice
Published on: February 14, 2017
An innovative numerical approach to resolve the pulse wave velocity in a healthy thoracic aorta model
An-Shik Yang1, Chih-Yung Wen, Li-Yu Tseng
1a Department of Energy and Refrigerating Air-Conditioning Engineering , National Taipei University of Technology , 1, Section 3, Chung-Hsiao E. Road, Taipei 106 , Taiwan R.O.C.
Insights
This study models thoracic aorta blood flow using fluid-structure interaction (FSI) to assess pulse wave velocity (PWV). The FSI model accurately estimates PWV and reveals insights into aortic wall dynamics.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Computational Fluid Dynamics
Background:
- Aortic dissection and atherosclerosis are fatal diseases linked to complex blood flow dynamics.
- Understanding thoracic aorta hemodynamics is crucial for predicting cardiovascular disease onset.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a numerical model of the human thoracic aorta using fluid-structure interaction (FSI).
- To investigate blood flow characteristics and pulse wave velocity (PWV) using FSI analysis.
- To present an innovative FSI approach for numerically resolving PWV and assessing aortic wall compliance.
Main Methods:
- Constructed a numerical thoracic aorta model using phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (PC-MRI) geometry.
- Employed coupled fluid-structure interaction (FSI) analysis to simulate blood flow and vessel wall dynamics.
- Numerically resolved PWV and wall shear stress, comparing FSI results with rigid wall models.
Main Results:
- The FSI model accurately estimated PWV in a normal thoracic aorta, showing good agreement with PC-MRI measurements.
- FSI simulations predicted lower wall shear stress in certain regions compared to rigid wall models.
- The study demonstrated the capability of FSI analysis for assessing aortic wall compliance.
Conclusions:
- The developed FSI model provides a robust method for analyzing thoracic aorta hemodynamics and PWV.
- This approach offers a foundation for advanced computer-aided diagnostic tools for aortic diseases.
- Understanding FSI is vital for accurate assessment of cardiovascular health and disease prediction.
Abstract:
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.
