Review of Patient-Specific Vascular Modeling: Template-Based Isogeometric Framework and the Case for CAD

We review the literature on patient-specific vascular modeling, with particular attention paid to three-dimensional arterial networks. Patient-specific vascular modeling typically involves three main steps: image processing, analysis suitable model generation, and computational analysis. Analysis suitable model generation techniques that are currently utilized suffer from several difficulties and complications, which often necessitate manual intervention and crude approximations. Because the modeling pipeline spans multiple disciplines, the benefits of integrating a computer-aided design (CAD) component for the geometric modeling tasks has been largely overlooked. Upon completion of our review, we adopt this philosophy and present a CAD-integrated template-based modeling framework that streamlines the construction of solid non-uniform rational B-spline vascular models for performing isogeometric finite element analysis. Examples of arterial models for mouse and human circles of Willis and a porcine coronary tree are presented.