Computational Modeling of Flow in an in Vitro Cerebrovascular Model Under Pulsatile Conditions with Experimental...

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Science
• Biomedical Engineering
• Fluid Dynamics

Background:

• Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) involves blood clot obstruction in cerebrovasculature, leading to potential brain damage.
• Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) offers insights into AIS biomechanics, including clot migration, surpassing medical imaging limitations.
• Validating CFD simulations with experimental data is essential for reliable computational modeling.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate an in vitro experimental model simulating pulsatile flow in the aorta and cerebrovasculature.
• To compare experimental measurements with CFD simulations for accuracy in predicting hemodynamic parameters.
• To establish a foundation for advanced CFD modeling of clot migration in AIS.

Main Methods:

• An in vitro model replicating aortic and cerebrovascular pulsatile flow was created.
• A blood analog fluid was used under physiological flow conditions driven by a piston pump.
• Experimental measurements of pressure and flow rate were acquired to validate CFD simulations.

Main Results:

• CFD predictions for time-averaged pressure at outlets showed agreement within 8% of experimental data.
• CFD predictions for time-averaged flow rate at outlets were within 1% of experimental measurements.
• The study confirmed the accuracy of CFD in simulating complex cardiovascular fluid dynamics.

Conclusions:

• The developed experimental model and validated CFD approach show significant potential for studying embolus migration in the brain.
• This work paves the way for enhanced understanding of AIS biomechanics through validated computational modeling.
• Future research will focus on simulating clot migration to inform AIS treatment strategies.