Experimental flow studies in exact-replica phantoms of atherosclerotic carotid bifurcations under steady input conditions.

摘要: Extensive flow studies are conducted in two carotid bifurcation phantoms. These phantoms exactly replicate the lumen of plaque excised intact from patients with severe atherosclerosis. The input into phantom's common artery is steady. Novel scanning techniques for visualization and particle image velocimetry used. In addition, a novel boundary treatment technique employed to extract first order accurate velocity gradients at walls. data show that fields highly three-dimensional. Numerous separation recirculation zones dominate domain, except lowest Reynolds numbers. regions often so directed internal jets form. At high numbers, flows become unsteady chaotic, even though Flow have large energetic almost stagnant zones. range size full arteries within crevasses smaller than 1 mm. Velocity field streamline patterns conform well geometry. streamlines tortuous. Stagnation points correlate topological features stenosis. Vorticity snaps confirm complex three dimensional nature flow. Wall shear stresses stenoses estimated be on 10 Pa. conclusively diseased primarily dictated by