Velocity Measurement in Carotid Artery: Quantitative Comparison of Time-Resolved 3D Phase-Contrast MRI and Image-based Computational Fluid Dynamics

Effects of stent shape on focal hemodynamics in intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis: A simulation study with computational fluid dynamics modeling

Background and aims

The shape of a stent could influence focal hemodynamics and subsequently plaque growth or in-stent restenosis in intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS). In this preliminary study, we aim to investigate the associations between stent shapes and focal hemodynamics in ICAS, using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations with manually manipulated stents of different shapes.

Methods

We built an idealized artery model, and reconstructed four patient-specific models of ICAS. In each model, three variations of stent geometry (i.e., enlarged, inner-narrowed, and outer-narrowed) were developed. We performed static CFD simulation on the idealized model and three patient-specific models, and transient CFD simulation of three cardiac cycles on one patient-specific model. Pressure, wall shear stress (WSS), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) filtration rate were quantified in the CFD models, and compared between models with an inner- or outer-narrowed stent vs. an enlarged stent. The absolute difference in each hemodynamic parameter was obtained by subtracting values from two models; a normalized difference (ND) was calculated as the ratio of the absolute difference and the value in the enlarged stent model, both area-averaged throughout the arterial wall.

Results

The differences in focal pressure in models with different stent geometry were negligible (ND<1% for all cases). However, there were significant differences in the WSS and LDL filtration rate with different stent geometry, with ND >20% in a static model. Observable differences in WSS and LDL filtration rate mainly appeared in area adjacent to and immediately distal to the stent. In the transient simulation, the LDL filtration rate had milder temporal fluctuations than WSS.

Conclusions

The stent geometry might influence the focal WSS and LDL filtration rate in ICAS, with negligible effect on pressure. Future studies are warranted to verify the relevance of the changes in these hemodynamic parameters in governing plaque growth and possibly in-stent restenosis in ICAS.

Comparison of Newtonian and Non-newtonian Fluid Models in Blood Flow Simulation in Patients With Intracranial Arterial Stenosis

Background

Newtonian fluid model has been commonly applied in simulating cerebral blood flow in intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) cases using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling, while blood is a shear-thinning non-Newtonian fluid. We aimed to investigate the differences of cerebral hemodynamic metrics quantified in CFD models built with Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluid assumptions, in patients with ICAS.

Methods

We built a virtual artery model with an eccentric 75% stenosis and performed static CFD simulation. We also constructed CFD models in three patients with ICAS of different severities in the luminal stenosis. We performed static simulations on these models with Newtonian and two non-Newtonian (Casson and Carreau-Yasuda) fluid models. We also performed transient simulations on another patient-specific model. We measured translesional pressure ratio (PR) and wall shear stress (WSS) values in all CFD models, to reflect the changes in pressure and WSS across a stenotic lesion. In all the simulations, we compared the PR and WSS values in CFD models derived with Newtonian, Casson, and Carreau-Yasuda fluid assumptions.

Results

In all the static and transient simulations, the Newtonian/non-Newtonian difference on PR value was negligible. As to WSS, in static models (virtual and patient-specific), the rheological difference was not obvious in areas with high WSS, but observable in low WSS areas. In the transient model, the rheological difference of WSS areas with low WSS was enhanced, especially during diastolic period.

Conclusion

Newtonian fluid model could be applicable for PR calculation, but caution needs to be taken when using the Newtonian assumption in simulating WSS especially in severe ICAS cases.

Four-Dimensional Flow Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Assessment of Velocity Magnitudes and Flow Patterns in The Human Carotid Artery Bifurcation: Comparison with Computational Fluid Dynamics

Purpose: Knowledge of the hemodynamics in the vascular system is important to understand and treat vascular pathology. The present study aimed to evaluate the hemodynamics in the human carotid artery bifurcation measured by four-dimensional (4D) flow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as compared to computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Methods: This protocol used MRI data of 12 healthy volunteers for the 3D vascular models and 4D flow MRI measurements for the boundary conditions in CFD simulation. We compared the velocities measured at the carotid bifurcation and the 3D velocity streamlines of the carotid arteries obtained by these two methods. Results: There was a good agreement for both maximum and minimum velocity values between the 2 methods for velocity magnitude at the bifurcation plane. However, on the 3D blood flow visualization, secondary flows, and recirculation regions are of poorer quality when visualized through the 4D flow MRI. Conclusion: 4D flow MRI and CFD show reasonable agreement in demonstrated velocity magnitudes at the carotid artery bifurcation. However, the visualization of blood flow at the recirculation regions and the assessment of secondary flow characteristics should be enhanced for the use of 4D flow MRI in clinical situations.

Quantifying Hemodynamic Changes in Moyamoya Disease Based on Two-Dimensional Cine Phase-Contrast Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Computational Fluid Dynamics

OBJECTIVE

To investigate hemodynamic changes in moyamoya disease (MMD) via two-dimensional cine phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging and computational fluid dynamics.

METHODS

In 18 patients with MMD and 10 healthy control subjects, phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging was performed to quantify flow rate of main supplying arteries, including internal carotid arteries (ICAs) and vertebral arteries. Mean flow rate in these vessels was adopted as the patient-specific boundary condition for computational fluid dynamics simulation of the circle of Willis in MMD and control groups. Pressure drop in both ICAs and their difference, wall shear stress and secondary flow in the carotid siphon of ICAs, and flow rate and size of posterior communicating arteries (PComAs) were compared between MMD and control groups. Four patients with MMD underwent follow-up scans for longitudinal comparison.

RESULTS

Phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging data revealed significantly different flow rate in the left ICA and right vertebral arteries between MMD and control groups. Computational fluid dynamics simulation demonstrated similar wall shear stress and similar secondary flow of both ICAs but significantly higher pressure drop in left ICA, higher pressure drop difference between left ICA and right ICA, and higher flow rate in PComAs in patients with MMD compared with control subjects. Significantly increased size of left PComA in patients with MMD was also found. Follow-up results confirmed that the combination of pressure drop difference, flow rate, and size of PComAs can potentially assist long-term prognosis after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Pressure drop difference, flow rate, and size of PComAs can be used to evaluate impairments in cerebrovascular reserve and indicate long-term prognosis in MMD.

Impact of Side Branches on the Computation of Fractional Flow in Intracranial Arterial Stenosis Using the Computational Fluid Dynamics Method

BACKGROUND

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) allows noninvasive fractional flow (FF) computation in intracranial arterial stenosis. Removal of small artery branches is necessary in CFD simulation. The consequent effects on FF value needs to be judged.

METHODS

An idealized vascular model was built with 70% focal luminal stenosis. A branch with one third or one half of the radius of the parent vessel was added at a distance of 5, 10, 15 and 20 mm to the lesion. With pressure and flow rate applied as inlet and outlet boundary conditions, CFD simulations were performed. Flow distribution at bifurcations followed Murray's law. By including or removing side branches, five patient-specific intracranial artery models were simulated. Transient simulation was performed on a patient-specific model, with a larger branch for validation. Branching effect was considered trivial if the FF difference between paired models (branches included or removed) was within 5%.

RESULTS

Compared with the control model without a branch, in all idealized models the relative differences of FF was within 2%. In five pairs of cerebral arteries (branches included/removed), FFs were 0.876 and 0.877, 0.853 and 0.858, 0.874 and 0.869, 0.865 and 0.858, 0.952 and 0.948. The relative difference in each pair was less than 1%. In transient model, the relative difference of FF was 3.5%.

CONCLUSION

The impact of removing side branches with radius less than 50% of the parent vessel on FF measurement accuracy is negligible in static CFD simulations, and minor in transient CFD simulation.

Aortic Valve Stenosis Increases Helical Flow and Flow Complexity: A Study of Intra-Operative Cardiac Vector Flow Imaging

Aortic valve stenosis alters blood flow in the ascending aorta. Using intra-operative vector flow imaging on the ascending aorta, secondary helical flow during peak systole and diastole, as well as flow complexity of primary flow during systole, were investigated in patients with normal, stenotic and replaced aortic valves. Peak systolic helical flow, diastolic helical flow and flow complexity during systole differed between the groups (p < 0.0001), and correlated to peak systolic velocity (R = 0.94, 0.87 and 0.88, respectively). The study indicates that aortic valve stenosis increases helical flow and flow complexity, which are measurable with vector flow imaging. For assessment of aortic stenosis and optimization of valve surgery, vector flow imaging may be useful.

Influence of Spatial Resolution in Three-dimensional Cine Phase Contrast Magnetic Resonance Imaging on the Accuracy of Hemodynamic Analysis

Introduction:

We aim to elucidate the effect of spatial resolution of three-dimensional cine phase contrast magnetic resonance (3D cine PC MR) imaging on the accuracy of the blood flow analysis, and examine the optimal setting for spatial resolution using flow phantoms.

Materials and Methods:

The flow phantom has five types of acrylic pipes that represent human blood vessels (inner diameters: 15, 12, 9, 6, and 3 mm). The pipes were fixed with 1% agarose containing 0.025 mol/L gadolinium contrast agent. A blood-mimicking fluid with human blood property values was circulated through the pipes at a steady flow. Magnetic resonance (MR) images (three-directional phase images with speed information and magnitude images for information of shape) were acquired using the 3-Tesla MR system and receiving coil. Temporal changes in spatially-averaged velocity and maximum velocity were calculated using hemodynamic analysis software. We calculated the error rates of the flow velocities based on the volume flow rates measured with a flowmeter and examined measurement accuracy.

Results:

When the acrylic pipe was the size of the thoracicoabdominal or cervical artery and the ratio of pixel size for the pipe was set at 30% or lower, spatially-averaged velocity measurements were highly accurate. When the pixel size ratio was set at 10% or lower, maximum velocity could be measured with high accuracy. It was difficult to accurately measure maximum velocity of the 3-mm pipe, which was the size of an intracranial major artery, but the error for spatially-averaged velocity was 20% or less.

Conclusions:

Flow velocity measurement accuracy of 3D cine PC MR imaging for pipes with inner sizes equivalent to vessels in the cervical and thoracicoabdominal arteries is good. The flow velocity accuracy for the pipe with a 3-mm-diameter that is equivalent to major intracranial arteries is poor for maximum velocity, but it is relatively good for spatially-averaged velocity.