V Flow Measurements of Pulsatile Flow in Femoral-Popliteal Bypass Proximal Anastomosis Compared with CFD Simulation

Abstract

This paper presents the experience of using the V Flow high-frame-rate ultrasound vector imaging method to study the pulsatile velocity fields in the area of the proximal anastomosis for femoral popliteal bypass surgery in vitro and in vivo. A representative (average) anastomosis model and the experimental setup designed for in vitro studies covering forward and reverse flow phases throughout the cycle are described. The results of the measurements are presented for areas with a relatively uniform velocity distribution and for areas with pronounced spatial inhomogeneities due to the jet or recirculating nature of the flow. The results of ultrasonic studies of the velocity field of the three-dimensional pulsatile flow in vitro and in vivo are compared with the data of numerical simulations carried out for the average and personalized models based on the Navier–Stokes equations. Acceptable consistency between the results of experimental and numerical studies is demonstrated.