Controversy exists regarding the suitability of fully developed versus measured inlet velocity profiles for image-based computational fluid dynamics (CFD) studies of carotid bifurcation hemodynamics. Here, we attempt to resolve this by investigating the impact of the reconstructed common carotid artery (CCA) inlet length on computed metrics of “disturbed” flow. Twelve normal carotid bifurcation geometries were reconstructed from contrast-enhanced angiograms acquired as part of the Vascular Aging—The Link That Bridges Age to Atherosclerosis study (VALIDATE). The right carotid artery lumen geometry was reconstructed from its brachiocephalic origin to well above the bifurcation, and the CCA was truncated objectively at locations one, three, five, and seven diameters proximal to where it flares into the bifurcation. Relative to the simulations carried out using the full CCA, models truncated at one CCA diameter strongly overestimated the amount of disturbed flow. Substantial improvement was offered by using three CCA diameters, with only minor further improvement using five CCA diameters. With seven CCA diameters, the amounts of disturbed flow agreed unambiguously with those predicted by the corresponding full-length models. Based on these findings, we recommend that image-based CFD models of the carotid bifurcation should incorporate at least three diameters of CCA length if fully developed velocity profiles are to be imposed at the inlet. The need for imposing measured inlet velocity profiles would seem to be relevant only for those cases where the CCA is severely truncated.
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December 2010
Research Papers
Effect of Common Carotid Artery Inlet Length on Normal Carotid Bifurcation Hemodynamics
Yiemeng Hoi,
Yiemeng Hoi
Biomedical Simulation Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering,
University of Toronto
, Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 3G8
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Bruce A. Wasserman,
Bruce A. Wasserman
The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences,
Johns Hopkins University
, Baltimore, MD 21205
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Edward G. Lakatta,
Edward G. Lakatta
Laboratory of Cardiovascular Science, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging,
National Institutes of Health
, Baltimore, MD 20892
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David A. Steinman
David A. Steinman
Biomedical Simulation Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering,
University of Toronto
, Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 3G8
Search for other works by this author on:
Yiemeng Hoi
Biomedical Simulation Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering,
University of Toronto
, Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 3G8
Bruce A. Wasserman
The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences,
Johns Hopkins University
, Baltimore, MD 21205
Edward G. Lakatta
Laboratory of Cardiovascular Science, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Aging,
National Institutes of Health
, Baltimore, MD 20892
David A. Steinman
Biomedical Simulation Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering,
University of Toronto
, Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 3G8J Biomech Eng. Dec 2010, 132(12): 121008 (6 pages)
Published Online: November 9, 2010
Article history
Received:
September 9, 2010
Revised:
October 3, 2010
Posted:
October 15, 2010
Published:
November 9, 2010
Online:
November 9, 2010
Citation
Hoi, Y., Wasserman, B. A., Lakatta, E. G., and Steinman, D. A. (November 9, 2010). "Effect of Common Carotid Artery Inlet Length on Normal Carotid Bifurcation Hemodynamics." ASME. J Biomech Eng. December 2010; 132(12): 121008. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4002800
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