A hemodynamic model of artery bypass graft considering microcirculation function

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The incidence of arterial stenosis is increasing year by year. In order to better diagnose and treat arterial stenosis, numerical simulation technology has become a popular method. OBJECTIVE: A novel model is constructed to investigate the influence of microcirculation on the hemodynamics of artery bypass graft. METHODS: In this paper, a severely narrow artery bypass graft model is considered. The geometric shape includes a narrow artery tube and a bypass graft of the same diameter with a 45° suture angle. The fluid-structure interaction model is considered by finite element numerical calculation, and the flow is simulated with microcirculation as the outlet boundary condition. The changes of blood flow velocity, pressure and wall shear stress are analyzed. RESULTS: The results show that blood almost entirely flows into the graft tube and there is no recirculation area at the anastomosis. CONCLUSION: The artery bypass graft model considering microcirculation function could simulate the physiological characteristics of blood flow more reasonably, and it provide helps for clinicians to diagnose and treat arterial stenosis.