Design of a 0D Image-Based Coronary Blood Flow Model

This research is concerned with the development of a simulation framework for patient-specific image-based blood flow studies in the context of computing physiologically realistic flow patterns, which could provide accurate information for individual patients taking into account the specific characteristics of their Cardio Vascular System (CVS). The underlying principle is based on the application of the universal methods of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for the solution of the flow-governing Navier-Stokes equations, defined over the blood volume within the 3D vessel lumen of coronary arteries reconstructed from medical Computed Tomography (CT) images. In this work, we introduce the fundamental stages of our 0D modeling approach, which allows for the representation of a complex 3D artery lumen geometry through a simple lumped parameter volume. The framework is exemplified through the paradigm of a single arterial branch. We present preliminary results of the computed pressure along the length of the branch.