Numerical simulation of flow dynamics in the Brachial-Ulnar-Radial arterial system

Abstract

The aim of this study is three fold: (1) to investigate the pulsatile blood flow in the brachial artery and its ulnar and radial tributaries in the attempt to understand aspects related to blood pressure measurements (BPM); (2) to assess the flow vessel-muscle structural interactions that may occur normally and under occlusive constraints (the radial artery); (3) to investigate the BPM information for different rheological models of blood. Mathematical modeling and numerical simulations are used to solve these objectives.

Measuring the Hemodynamic Flow in the Brachial-Ulnar-Radial Arterial System

“…While idealized computational domains [15] are usable, there is a growing interest for more realistic ones that may be obtained, for instance, through image reconstruction techniques [20]. Here, Simplewere [16] was used to process DICOM data sets of computer tomography (CT) scans, aiming to create geometries that represent more accurately the human arm anatomy: the arterial tree, the humerus, radius and ulna bones, the muscular and tissue mass, Fig.1.…”

“…Assuming that these arterial segment is of "resistive type" [19], the hemodynamic flow may be viscous, laminar, incompressible and pulsatile, as described by the momentum balance (Navier-Stokes) and the mass conservation law [20] ρ ∂u ∂t…”

“…We use the power law type of fluid η = mγ n−1 [20], where γ [s −1 ] is the shear rate tensor, m = 0.017P a·s, and n = 0.708 are model parameters. This model may solve the discrepancies among published values of the viscosity measured using different techniques [21].…”

“…No-slip velocity conditions are set on the arterial walls. Here, we depart from the previous studies [15], [20], and use for the outlets pressure profiles obtained out of AP measurements, Fig.5.…”