Abstract
Fluorescence lifetime spectroscopy has demonstrated potential for characterization and diagnosis of arterial vessels pathologies. However, the intravascular application of such technique is hampered by the presence of blood hemoglobin that affects both the delivery of the excitation light to and the collection of the fluorescence light from the vessel wall. We report here a computational fluid dynamics model that allows for the optimization of blood flushing parameters in a manner that minimizes the amount of saline needed to clear the optical field of view. A 3D turbulence (k - ∈) model was employed to simulate the flow inside and around a side-viewing fiber-optic catheter. The influence of various infusion rates, blood flow rates and vessel diameters on the flow around the catheter tip and its effects on the wall shear stress (WSS) are studied. Current results suggest that low flushing rates in smaller-diameter vessels (e.g., stenotic vessels) can produce better flushing efficiency by removing the blood cells in the path of the fluorescence light and reducing wall shear stress. The comparison of the results for blood vessels with equal diameter but different flow rates suggests that the effect of systolic and diastolic conditions on the maximum wall shear stress is not substantial. The results from this study can be utilized in determining the optimal flushing rate depending on the diameter of the vessels, blood flow rate, and the maximum wall shear stress that vessel wall can sustain, which can be estimated from the feedback of the fluorescent light from the wall.
Original language | English (US) |
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Title of host publication | Progress in Biomedical Optics and Imaging - Proceedings of SPIE |
Volume | 7883 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2011 |
Event | Photonic Therapeutics and Diagnostics VII - San Francisco, CA, United States Duration: Jan 22 2011 → Jan 24 2011 |
Other
Other | Photonic Therapeutics and Diagnostics VII |
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Country | United States |
City | San Francisco, CA |
Period | 1/22/11 → 1/24/11 |
Keywords
- Catheter
- Mixing model
- Turbulence model
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Biomaterials
- Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging