title: A computational approach to generate concurrent arterial networks in vascular territories.
abstract: In this work, a computational procedure is proposed to vascularize anatomical regions supplied by many inflow sites. The proposed methodology creates a partition of the territory to be vascularized into nonoverlapping subdomains that are independently supplied by the so-called perforator arteries (inflow sites). Then, in each subdomain, the constrained constructive optimization method is used to generate a network of vessels. The identification of subdomains in a certain vascular territory perfused by many perforator arteries turns out to be a fundamental problem towards understanding the morphological conformation of peripheral beds in the cardiovascular system. The methodology is assessed through two academic examples showing the main structural features of the so-defined vascular territory partition and the corresponding arterial networks. In addition, the vascularization of a three-dimensional sheet-like tissue is presented with potential application in flap planning and design.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório Nacional de Computação Científica, Av. Getúlio Vargas 333, Quitandinha, 25651-075 Petrópolis, Brazil. pjblanco@lncc.br
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.forename: R A B
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: de Queiroz
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Feijóo
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001158:Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000098:blood supply