Computationally efficient particle release map determination for direct tumor-targeting in a representative hepatic...

Area of Science:

• Computational fluid dynamics
• Biomedical engineering
• Medical imaging and simulation

Background:

• Direct tumor-targeting techniques require precise particle release maps (PRMs) for optimal catheter positioning and injection timing.
• Patient-specific PRM generation via fully transient analysis is computationally intensive and time-consuming.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the feasibility of using steady-state simulations to generate PRMs equivalent to pulsatile arterial flow.
• To compare the accuracy and computational efficiency of steady-state versus fully transient simulations for PRM generation.

Main Methods:

• Simulated fluid-particle transport in a hepatic artery under both fully transient and steady-state flow conditions.
• Analyzed and compared particle release maps (PRMs) generated from different cardiac pulse intervals and steady-state scenarios.
• Evaluated computational time differences between transient and steady-state simulation methods.

Main Results:

• Steady-state simulations produced PRMs comparable to transient analysis, with significantly reduced computational time (0.5-1 hour vs. 10 days).
• The diastolic phase of the cardiac pulse showed relatively constant PRMs due to semi-steady flow.
• Flow rate and outlet pressure were identified as key parameters for estimating PRMs.

Conclusions:

• Steady-state simulations offer a computationally efficient and sufficiently accurate method for generating PRMs for direct tumor-targeting.
• Modeling multiple steady-state scenarios across the cardiac cycle may provide a more comprehensive understanding of PRM variations.
• This methodology can guide catheter placement, with in vivo adjustments ensuring patient-specific optimal tumor targeting.