Fluid dynamics of the aortic bifurcation using magnetic resonance imaging and computational fluid dynamics

In the general area of atherosclerosis, study of the aorto-iliac bifurcation is important as the left and right bifurcations have significantly different rates of incidence. Our current research is to investigate the role of haemodynamics, and both in vivo and predictive methods are combined to give as full an understanding as possible. In order to be able to use the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) code, boundary condition data have to be provided by the magnetic resonance imaging, and these comprise (a) geometrical details of the arterial bifurcation, and (b) inlet velocity profiles, over the entire cardiac cycle. These are obtained by the Time of Flight (TOF) angiography and the phase contrast MRI technique respectively. A further stage is required, in that the raw MR data must be image-processed, and then the whole sequence, including the CFD simulation can be automated. Presentations will be made of data and results for typical clinical measurements, through to the prediction of the full bifurcation haemodynamics and local wall shear stress patterns.