Publication 17-CNA-008
Numerical Simulation of Red Blood Cell-Induced Platelet Transport in Saccular Aneurysms
We-Tao Wu
Department of Biomedical Engineering
Carnegie Mellon
University
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
weitaow@andrew.cmu.edu
Yubai Li
Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering
The Pennsylvania State University
State College, PA 16803
yxl270@psu.edu
Nadine Aubry
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Northeastern University
Boston, MA 02115
n.aubry@northeastern.edu
Mehrdad Massoudi
Center for Nonlinear Analysis
Department of Mathematical Sciences
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
and
National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL)
U.S. Department of Energy
626 Cochrans Mill Road, P.O. Box 10940
Pittsburgh, PA 15236
massoudi@netl.doe.gov
James F. Antaki
Department of Biomedical Engineering
Carnegie Mellon
University
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
antaki@cmu.edu
Abstract: We present a numerical simulation of blood flow in two aneurysmal vessels. Using a
multicomponent continuum approach, called mixture theory, the velocity fields and spatial
distribution of the red blood cells (RBCs) and the plasma are predicted. Platelet migration is
described by a convection-diffusion equation, coupled to the RBC concentration field. The model is
applied to study a two-dimensional straight vessel and multiple two-dimensional aneurysm vessels
with different neck sizes. The model accurately predicts the enrichment of the platelets near the wall
in the straight vessel, agreeing with the experimental measurement quantitatively. The numerical
results also show that the near-wall enrichment of the platelets in the parent vessel highly influences
the platelet concentration within the aneurysm. The results also indicate that the platelet
concentration within the aneurysm increases with Reynolds number and decreases with a smaller
neck size. This might have significance on the formation of thrombus (blood clot) within the
aneurysm, which in turn may have a protective effect on preventing ruptures. Based on the success
with the problems studied, we believe the current model can be a useful tool for analyzing the blood
flow and platelets transport within patient specific aneurysms in the future.
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