Objective: To construct a CT scan-based finite element model of thoracic aortic dissection and numerically simulate its hemodynamic profiles, so as to provide a theoretical basis for the hemodynamic mechanism study and clinical management of thoracic aortic dissection.
Methods: Based on the patient-specific CT data of thoracic aortic dissection, the optimized surface model of thoracic aortic dissection was constructed by using the image processing software (MIMICS 13.0), which was then imported into ANSYS 11.0 for finite element mesh dividing. The hemodynamic analysis of thoracic aortic dissection was finally performed by ANSYS CFX 11.0 softeare.
Results: A finite element model for hemodynamic analysis of patient-specific thoracic aortic dissection was successfully constructed. The distribution and changes of streamlines, velocity vector, pressure and wall shear stress were obtained for the patient-specific model.
Conclusions: This model has digital and patient-specific features and can be used to analyze the hemodynamics and mechanism of rupture of thoracic aortic dissection.