CFD mesh generation for biological flows: Geometry reconstruction using diagnostic images

A new thrust in the use of CFD techniques for simulation of biological flows has necessitated the demand for robust grid generation techniques to characterize the complex geometries. While the techniques of image manipulation required are simple, most researchers in this field use proprietary 3rd party software for image manipulation and grid generation. In the current study, we propose a simple MATLAB based grid generation techniques suitable for CFD studies of external and internal biological flows such as blood flow and respiration and flows around the human body. As an example, the flow inside two specific intracranial aneurysms is modeled by generating CFD grids from 3D rotational angiography images. Specific issues of modeling, such as boundary conditions and location of flow inlets and outlets, in relation to the reconstructed geometry are discussed. The reconstructed arterial geometry including the aneurysm matches the visual representation generated by the angiogram software (Leonardo software). The calculated CFD flow patterns also show a good correlation to the flow visualization presented by the Leonardo software. Areas of high pressure and wall shear stress are identified. The same technique is also used to generate the CFD grid of a human trachea to study the particle dispersion patterns during a human cough cycle. The fluid is modeled using an actual human cough signal with the particles simulating the influenza virus. The flow pattern out of the mouth along with the dispersion pattern of the particles is validated against similar human experimental studies to track the spread of the disease through cough. Work is also currently underway to use the present grid generation program to construct a superficial mesh of the human body from MRI/CAT scan images of cadavers. The goal is to build an accurate and scalable model of the human body surface with articulate joints which can be posed in any environment to model the air flow patterns around the body.

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