Which diameter and angle rule provides optimal flow patterns in a coronary bifurcation?

Yunlong Huo, Gérard Finet, Thierry Lefevre, Yves Louvard, Issam Moussa, Ghassan S. Kassab

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The branching angle and diameter ratio in epicardial coronary artery bifurcations are two important determinants of atherogenesis. Murray's cubed diameter law and bifurcation angle have been assumed to yield optimal flows through a bifurcation. In contrast, we have recently shown a 7/3 diameter law (HK diameter model), based on minimum energy hypothesis in an entire tree structure. Here, we derive a bifurcation angle rule corresponding to the HK diameter model and critically evaluate the streamline flow through HK and Murray-type bifurcations. The bifurcations from coronary casts were found to obey the HK diameter model and angle rule much more than Murray's model. A finite element model was used to investigate flow patterns for coronary artery bifurcations of various types. The inlet velocity and pressure boundary conditions were measured by ComboWire. Y-bifurcation of Murray type decreased wall shear stress-WSS (10%-40%) and created an increased oscillatory shear index-OSI in atherosclerosis-prone regions as compared with HK-type bifurcations. The HK-type bifurcations were found to have more optimal flow patterns (i.e., higher WSS and lower OSI) than Murray-type bifurcations which have been traditionally believed to be optimized. This study has implications for changes in bifurcation angles and diameters in percutaneous coronary intervention.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1273-1279
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Biomechanics
Volume45
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 30 2012
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Bifurcation lesion
  • Finite element method
  • Flow pattern
  • Oscillatory shear index
  • Wall shear stress

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biophysics
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
  • Rehabilitation

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