Article - Blood flow patterns in the aorta

We have investigated the aortic blood flow in a silicone model of a pathological aorta with ascending aneurysm in order to analyze the differences in the blood flow pattern compared to a healthy aortic model and to single out possible characteristics that could serve as indicators for aneurysm severity. Magnetic resonance imaging simulations were performed under physiological, pulsatile flow conditions using data obtained from optical three dimensional particle tracking velocimetry measurements. We observed and quantified elevated turbulence intensity and pressure loss in comparison to the healthy geometry and we suggest that these markers should be used as complimentary indicators for assessing aneurysmal severity.