Modeling of Normal and Atherosclerotic Blood Vessels using Finite Element Methods and Artificial Neural Networks

Authors: K. Kamalanand, S. Srinivasan

Abstract:

Analysis of blood vessel mechanics in normal and diseased conditions is essential for disease research, medical device design and treatment planning. In this work, 3D finite element models of normal vessel and atherosclerotic vessel with 50% plaque deposition were developed. The developed models were meshed using finite number of tetrahedral elements. The developed models were simulated using actual blood pressure signals. Based on the transient analysis performed on the developed models, the parameters such as total displacement, strain energy density and entropy per unit volume were obtained. Further, the obtained parameters were used to develop artificial neural network models for analyzing normal and atherosclerotic blood vessels. In this paper, the objectives of the study, methodology and significant observations are presented.

Keywords: Blood vessel, atherosclerosis, finite element model, artificial neural networks

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1329525

References:

[1] M.A. Zulliger, P. Fridez, K. Hayashi, N. Stergiopulos, "A strain energy function for arteries accounting for wall composition and structure," Journal of Biomechanics, vol. 37, 2004, pp. 989-1000.
[2] A. J. M. Spencer, Continuum Mechanics, Longman Scientific & Technical, Essex, 1980.
[3] F.L. Wuyts, V.J. Vanhuyse, G.J. Langewouters, W.F. Decraemer, E.R. Raman, S. Buyle, "Elastic properties of human aortas in relation to age and atherosclerosis: a structural model," Physics in Medicine & Biology, vol. 40, 1995, pp. 1577-1597.
[4] C.F. Carmen, A. Stelian, C.M. Catalina, I. Luminita, C.D. Aurora, "Finite Element Analysis For A Simplified Model Of A Blood Vessel With Lesion," Annals Of The Oradea University, Fascicle of Management and Technological Engineering, vol. IX, No.XIX, NR1, 2010.
[5] L.H. Arroyo, R.T. Lee, " Mechanisms of plaque rupture: mechanical and biologic interactions," Cardiovascular Research, vol. 41, 1999, pp. 369- 375.
[6] G.S. Kassab, "Biomechanics of the cardiovascular system: the aorta as an illustratory example," J. R. Soc. Interface, vol. 3, 2006, pp. 719-740.
[7] R.P. Vito and S.A. Dixon, "Blood Vessel Constitutive models,-1995- 2002," Annu. Rev. Biomed. Engg., vol. 5, 2003, pp. 413-439.
[8] H. Zhang, H.W. Zhang, Y.X. Gu, "A Three Layer Model of the Mechanical Behaviour of Blood Vessel Walls," Computational Mechanics, Beijing, China, ISCM 2007.
[9] S. Cavalcanti, "Haemodynamics of an artery with mild stenosis," Journal of Biomechanics, vol. 28, 1995, pp. 387-399.
[10] Z. Yu, M.J. Holst, J.A. McCammon, "High-fidelity geometric modeling for biomedical applications," Finite Elements in Analysis and Design, vol. 44, 2008, pp. 715-723.
[11] Y. Shen, K. Chandrashekhara, W.F. Breig L.R. Oliver, "Finite element analysis of V-ribbed belts using neural network based hyperelastic material model," International Journal of Non-Linear Mechanics, vol. 40, 2005, pp. 875- 890.
[12] A. Hager, H. Kaemmerer, U. Rapp-Bernhardt, S. Bl├╝cher, K. Rapp, T.M. Bernhardt, M. Galanski, J. Hess, "Diameters of the thoracic aorta throughout life as measured with helical computed tomography," J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg, vol. 123, 2002, pp. 1060-1066.