Computational Fluid Dynamics Model Analysis of the Blood Flow in the Right Coronary Artery on the Beating Heart

Abstract

It is very important to elucidate the specific mechanism for the formation, growth, and breakdown of coronary plaque, in order to diagnose and prevent ischemic heart disease, such as myocardial infarction. Coronary atherosclerotic plaque has some characteristic background conditions from a mechanical viewpoint. Of these, the beating motion of the heart wall on which the major coronary arteries are fixed is very interesting, due to its possible mechanical influence on the flow inside the artery, and hence on atherogenesis. This study conducted a computational flow dynamics (CFD) simulation using a simplified model of the right coronary artery, which deforms with contraction of the heart. The right coronary artery was modeled using an ordinary helix, whose torsion and curvature changed in time with the contraction and dilatation of the heart. The results are discussed with respect to local hemodynamics’ characteristics, particularly the wall shear stress distribution.