Non-invasive assessment of fractional flow reserve using computational fluid dynamics modelling from coronary angiography images

Abstract

Fractional flow reserve (FFR invasive) is measured by measuring pressure differences across a coronary artery stenosis by coronary catheterisation technique. This is a gold standard method of determining the extent of stenosis. This method has some potential complications such as coronary vessel dissection, embolism, and renal failure. This paper presents a method for an assessment of FFR noninvasively, with coronary CT angiography imaging and fluid dynamics modelling. FFR is calculated as the ratio between pressure distal to stenosis and pressure proximal to stenosis of the coronary artery region segmented from CT angiography image using MIMICS software. ANSYS software is used to determine the FFR (0.73 ± 0.14). FFR can also be computed non-invasively by this technique for other cardiovascular conditions related to peripheral, cerebrovascular and renovascular disease.