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Impact of the Spatial Velocity Inlet Distribution on the Hemodynamics of the Thoracic Aorta

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Abstract

The impact of the distribution in space of the inlet velocity in the numerical simulations of the hemodynamics in the thoracic aorta is systematically investigated. A real healthy aorta geometry, for which in-vivo measurements are available, is considered. The distribution is modeled through a truncated cone shape, which is a suitable approximation of the real one downstream of a trileaflet aortic valve during the systolic part of the cardiac cycle. The ratio between the upper and the lower base of the truncated cone and the position of the center of the upper base are selected as uncertain parameters. A stochastic approach is chosen, based on the generalized Polynomial Chaos expansion, to obtain accurate response surfaces of the quantities of interest in the parameter space. The selected parameters influence the velocity distribution in the ascending aorta. Consequently, effects on the wall shear stress are observed, confirming the need to use patient-specific inlet conditions if interested in the hemodynamics of this region. The surface base ratio is globally the most important parameter. Conversely, the impact on the velocity and wall shear stress in the aortic arch and descending aorta is almost negligible.

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Author notes

  1. Alessandro Mariotti and Simona Celi are equal contributors to this work and designated as co-first authors.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Civil and Industrial Engineering Department, University of Pisa, Largo Lucio Lazzarino, 2, 56122, Pisa, Italy

    Alessandro Mariotti & Maria Vittoria Salvetti

  2. BioCardioLab, Bioengineering Unit, Heart Hospital, Fondazione CNR - Regione Toscana G. Monasterio, Via Aurelia Sud, 54100, Massa, Italy

    Simona Celi & Maria Nicole Antonuccio

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  1. Alessandro Mariotti
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Correspondence to Simona Celi.

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All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000. Informed consent was obtained from all patients for being included in the study.

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Mariotti, A., Celi, S., Antonuccio, M.N. et al. Impact of the Spatial Velocity Inlet Distribution on the Hemodynamics of the Thoracic Aorta. Cardiovasc Eng Tech 14, 713–725 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13239-023-00682-2

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