Individualised pressure propagation model for the elastic arteries

Abstract

A computer simulation technique based on individualised patient information is proposed for simulating pressure propagation characteristics of the systemic arterial tree. The technique relates physical properties of the systemic arterial tree to the gender, age and height of individual patients and uses a mathematical model of pressure propagation in elastic arteries to relate pressure and flow waveforms at different locations along the arterial tree. To verify that the technique is able to successfully model blood flow in the system, the model predictions are compared to invasive measurements of aortic blood pressure made during aortograms. Results suggest that the technique is able to simulate pressure propagation in a highly successful manner with a correlation coefficient >0.95 and a total cumulative errors less than 2% when compared with invasive measurements. Application of this technique in the diagnosis of different cardiovascular conditions is currently underway.