Wall shear stress (WSS) distribution and low density lipoprotein (LDL) mass flux are simulated using a fluid-structure interaction (FSI) approach. T2 weighted black blood MRI images of a human left carotid artery are used for the arterial model construction, and the boundary conditions for FSI simulation are derived from phase contrast (PC) MR data. The endothelium is treated as a shear stress dependent, three pathways pore model for LDL particles. The computational results demonstrate that the region distal to an atherosclerotic plaque in the internal carotid artery experiences both low WSS and high mass and volume flux, which are hypothesized to be essential factors in progression of atherosclerosis.

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