Numerical simulation of flow oscillations in stenotic arterial segment.
The hypothesis that stenosis-induced flow disturbances may be the cause of vascular sounds was investigated. The onset of flow oscillations in a vessel with a severe constriction was simulated by a computer model based on the axi-symmetric Navier-Stokes equations. Model includes fluid non-linear inertial forces, viscoelastic wall motion, anatomical taper and proximal and distal circulation. Self-excited flow oscillations with different oscillatory patterns were reproduced. A common characteristic of such flow oscillations was a high-frequency component in the audible band (100-500 Hz). Numerical results support the hypothesis that vascular sounds may be generated by high-frequency flow oscillations.
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Biomedical Engineering Laboratory, Department of Electronics, Computer Science and Systems, University of Bologna, Viale Risorgimento, 2, 40136 Bologna, Italy.
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D000818:Animals; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001314:Auscultation; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D004548:Elasticity; D018056:Hemorheology; D006801:Humans; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D010507:Periodicity; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D014783:Viscosity