Influence of Supporting Tissue on the Deformation and Compliance of Healthy and Diseased Arteries

Abstract

Hemodynamics and the interaction between the components of the cardiovascular system are complex and involve a structural/fluid flow interaction. During the cardiac cycle, changes to vascular pressure induce a compliant response in the vessels as they cyclically stretch and relax. The compliance influences the fluid flow throughout the system. The interaction is influenced by the disease state of the artery, and in particular, a plaque layer can reduce the compliance. In order to properly quantify the fluid-structural response, it is essential to consider whether the tissue surrounding the artery provides a support to the vessel wall. Here, a series of calculations are provided to determine what role the supporting tissue plays in the vessel wall and how much tissue must be included to properly carry out future fluid-structure calculations. Additionally, we calculate the sensitivity of the compliance to material properties such as the Young’s modulus or to the transmural pressure difference.