Choice of a hemodynamic model for occlusive thrombosis in arteries

Intravascular thrombosis can lead to heart attacks and strokes that together are the leading causes of death in the US (Kochanek, K.D., Murphy, S.L., Xu, J.Q., 2014). The ability to identify the offending biofluid mechanical conditions and predict the timescale of thrombotic occlusion in vessels and devices may improve patient outcomes. A computational model was developed to describe the growth of thrombus based on the local hemodynamic shear rate. The model predicts thrombus deposition based on initial geometric and fluid mechanical conditions, which are updated throughout the simulation to reflect the changing lumen dimensions. Thrombus growth and occlusion from whole blood was measured in in vitro experiments using stenotic glass capillary tubes, a PDMS microfluidic channel, and a PTFE stenotic aorto-iliac graft. Comparison of the predicted occlusion times to experimental results shows excellent agreement. The results indicate that local shear rate plays a critical role in acute thrombosis, and that hemodynamic characterization may have clinical utility.