In this work, we present a novel method for the derivation of the unloaded geometry of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) from a pressurized geometry in turn obtained by 3D reconstruction of computed tomography (CT) images. The approach was experimentally validated with an aneurysm phantom loaded with gauge pressures of 80, 120, and 140 mm Hg. The unloaded phantom geometries estimated from these pressurized states were compared to the actual unloaded phantom geometry, resulting in mean nodal surface distances of up to 3.9% of the maximum aneurysm diameter. An in-silico verification was also performed using a patient-specific AAA mesh, resulting in maximum nodal surface distances of 8 μm after running the algorithm for eight iterations. The methodology was then applied to 12 patient-specific AAA for which their corresponding unloaded geometries were generated in 5–8 iterations. The wall mechanics resulting from finite element analysis of the pressurized (CT image-based) and unloaded geometries were compared to quantify the relative importance of using an unloaded geometry for AAA biomechanics. The pressurized AAA models underestimate peak wall stress (quantified by the first principal stress component) on average by 15% compared to the unloaded AAA models. The validation and application of the method, readily compatible with any finite element solver, underscores the importance of generating the unloaded AAA volume mesh prior to using wall stress as a biomechanical marker for rupture risk assessment.
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October 2016
Research-Article
A Methodology for the Derivation of Unloaded Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Geometry With Experimental Validation
Santanu Chandra,
Santanu Chandra
Department of Biomedical Engineering,
University of Texas at San Antonio,
San Antonio, TX 78249
University of Texas at San Antonio,
San Antonio, TX 78249
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Vimalatharmaiyah Gnanaruban,
Vimalatharmaiyah Gnanaruban
Department of Biomedical Engineering,
University of Texas at San Antonio,
San Antonio, TX 78249
University of Texas at San Antonio,
San Antonio, TX 78249
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Fabian Riveros,
Fabian Riveros
Aragon Institute of Engineering Research,
Universidad de Zaragoza,
Zaragoza 50018, Spain
Universidad de Zaragoza,
Zaragoza 50018, Spain
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Jose F. Rodriguez,
Jose F. Rodriguez
Aragon Institute of Engineering Research,
Universidad de Zaragoza,
Zaragoza 50018, Spain;
Universidad de Zaragoza,
Zaragoza 50018, Spain;
Department of Chemistry, Materials, and
Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta,”
Politecnico di Milano,
Milano 20133, Italy
Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta,”
Politecnico di Milano,
Milano 20133, Italy
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Ender A. Finol
Ender A. Finol
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Texas at San Antonio,
EB 3.04.23,
One UTSA Circle,
San Antonio, TX 78249
e-mail: ender.finol@utsa.edu
University of Texas at San Antonio,
EB 3.04.23,
One UTSA Circle,
San Antonio, TX 78249
e-mail: ender.finol@utsa.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
Santanu Chandra
Department of Biomedical Engineering,
University of Texas at San Antonio,
San Antonio, TX 78249
University of Texas at San Antonio,
San Antonio, TX 78249
Vimalatharmaiyah Gnanaruban
Department of Biomedical Engineering,
University of Texas at San Antonio,
San Antonio, TX 78249
University of Texas at San Antonio,
San Antonio, TX 78249
Fabian Riveros
Aragon Institute of Engineering Research,
Universidad de Zaragoza,
Zaragoza 50018, Spain
Universidad de Zaragoza,
Zaragoza 50018, Spain
Jose F. Rodriguez
Aragon Institute of Engineering Research,
Universidad de Zaragoza,
Zaragoza 50018, Spain;
Universidad de Zaragoza,
Zaragoza 50018, Spain;
Department of Chemistry, Materials, and
Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta,”
Politecnico di Milano,
Milano 20133, Italy
Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta,”
Politecnico di Milano,
Milano 20133, Italy
Ender A. Finol
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Texas at San Antonio,
EB 3.04.23,
One UTSA Circle,
San Antonio, TX 78249
e-mail: ender.finol@utsa.edu
University of Texas at San Antonio,
EB 3.04.23,
One UTSA Circle,
San Antonio, TX 78249
e-mail: ender.finol@utsa.edu
1Corresponding author.
Manuscript received December 3, 2014; final manuscript received August 1, 2016; published online August 30, 2016. Assoc. Editor: Jonathan Vande Geest.
J Biomech Eng. Oct 2016, 138(10): 101005 (11 pages)
Published Online: August 30, 2016
Article history
Received:
December 3, 2014
Revised:
August 1, 2016
Citation
Chandra, S., Gnanaruban, V., Riveros, F., Rodriguez, J. F., and Finol, E. A. (August 30, 2016). "A Methodology for the Derivation of Unloaded Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Geometry With Experimental Validation." ASME. J Biomech Eng. October 2016; 138(10): 101005. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4034425
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