Correction for broadening in Doppler blood flow spectrum estimated using wavelet transform

A computer simulation model for Doppler ultrasound signals from pulsatile blood flow in stenosed vessels

A computer simulation model based on an analytic flow velocity distribution is proposed to generate Doppler ultrasound signals from pulsatile blood flow in the vessels with various stenosis degrees. The model takes into account the velocity field from pulsatile blood flow in the stenosed vessels, sample volume shape and acoustic factors that affect the Doppler signals. By analytically solving the Navier-Stokes equations, the velocity distributions of pulsatile blood flow in the vessels with various stenosis degrees are firstly calculated according to the velocity at the axis of the circular tube. Secondly, power spectral density (PSD) of the Doppler signals is estimated by summing the contribution of all scatterers passing through the sample volume grouped into elemental volumes. Finally, Doppler signals are generated using cosine-superposed components that are modulated by the PSD functions that vary over the cardiac cycle. The results show that the model generates Doppler blood flow signals with characteristics similar to those found in practice. It could be concluded that the proposed approach offers the advantages of computational simplicity and practicality for simulating Doppler ultrasound signals from pulsatile blood flow in stenosed vessels.

Proposition of an outflow boundary approach for carotid artery stenosis CFD simulation

The purpose of this study was to propose an innovative approach of setting outlet boundary conditions for the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation of human common carotid arteries (CCAs) bifurcation based on the concept of energy loss minimisation at flow bifurcation. Comparisons between this new approach and previously reported boundary conditions were also made. The results showed that CFD simulation based on the proposed boundary conditions gave an accurate prediction of the critical stenosis ratio of carotid arteries (at around 65%). Other boundary conditions, such as the constant external pressure (P = 0) and constant outflow ratio, either overestimated or underestimated the critical stenosis ratio of carotid arteries. The patient-specific simulation results furthermore indicated that the calculated internal carotid artery flow ratio at CCA bifurcation (61%) coincided with the result obtained by clinical measurements through the use of Colour Doppler ultrasound.