|
Blood Flow Visualization System Integrating Ultrasonic Measurement and Numerical Simulation |
|
|
|
|
|
Contents 1. Ultrasonic-Measurement-Integrated
Simulation |
|
|
Among a number of existing imaging modalities, color Doppler imaging by ultrasonic measurement equipment is widely used for diagnosis of circulatory diseases since it non-invasively provides real-time images of the blood flow structure and vessel configuration by a relatively compact system. However, obtained blood flow information is limited to one-directional velocity component along the ultrasonic beam (Doppler velocity). On the other hand, numerical simulation can provide detailed information of blood flow, but correct specifications of computational conditions, such as the initial condition and the boundary conditions, are inherently difficult. As the result, errors in those conditions may lead to inaccurate computational results. |
Color Doppler image around a thoracic
aneurysm (blue for flow away from the probe and
red for flow approaching the probe) |
|
In UMI simulation, blood flow is measured by means of color Doppler imaging using ultrasound, and numerical simulation of the targeted blood flow is carried out using estimated computational conditions. During the computational process, feedback signals proportional to the optimal estimation of the difference of velocity vector determined by measured and computed results are added to the governing equations in the form of an artificial force term at feedback points defined in the computational domain. For the sake of feedback, UMI simulation reproduces the real blood flow accurately and in detail, and provides heamodynamic stresses acting on blood vessel, which were difficult to obtain by existing methodologies. |
Ultrasonic-Measurement-Integrated
simulation of
blood flow |
|
|
|
|
Other Contents |
|
|
|
|
