Simulation of flow dynamics in left main coronary bifurcation on different situation of blood viscosity

Abstract

Left main coronary arterial model was made by digital subtraction and novel 3D reconstruction methods analyzed from coronary angiography data base. Inlet flow velocity waveform of the pulsatile flow obtained from in vivo intravascular Doppler ultrasound flow data. In vivo pressure profile was adopted also. For attaining effective numerical analysis of hemodynamics, we used finite volume method, adapting Rhie-Chow algorithm. The governing equations are calculated under a non-staggered grid system. We calculated all the profile of flow patterns, wall shear stress, and particle residence time during one cardiac cycle according as varying blood viscosity. During the cardiac cycle, coronary flow phases are classified as accelerated and decelerated phase. The flow separation and secondary flow around the bifurcation area is more significant on deceleration phase. The profiles of wall shear stress are more separated on deceleration phase, also. And these patterns are more prominent when the blood viscosity is increased. Furthermore, higher blood viscosity, more increased the particle residence time. Considering the design of microrobot for interventional usage of coronary aterial disease, we suggest that it is essential to understand the flow dynamics in coronary arterial trees.