Key result
Three-step computational technique successfully reconstructs the entire pulmonary arterial tree down to the capillary bed.
The developed computational model provides a morphological foundation for future accurate simulations of blood flow in the pulmonary circulation.
May enable full pulmonary vascular flow modeling; leaves open clinical translation pending experimental validation.
A proper analysis of blood flow is contingent upon accurate modelling of the branching pattern and vascular geometry of the network of interest. It is challenging to reconstruct the entire vascular network of any organ experimentally, in particular the pulmonary vasculature, because of its very high number of vessels, complexity of the branching pattern and poor accessibility in vivo. The objective of our research is to develop an innovative approach for the reconstruction of the full pulmonary vascular tree from available morphometric data. Our method consists of the use of morphometric data on those parts of the pulmonary vascular tree that are too small to reconstruct by medical imaging methods. This method is a three-step technique that reconstructs the entire pulmonary arterial tree down to the capillary bed. Vessels greater than 2 mm are reconstructed from direct volume and surface analysis using contrast-enhanced computed tomography. Vessels smaller than 2 mm are reconstructed from available morphometric and distensibility data and rearranged by applying Murray's laws. Implementation of morphometric data to reconstruct the branching pattern and applying Murray's laws to every vessel bifurcation simultaneously leads to an accurate vascular tree reconstruction. The reconstruction algorithm generates full arterial tree topography down to the first capillary bifurcation. Geometry of each order of the vascular tree is generated separately to minimize the construction and simulation time. The node-to-node connectivity along with the diameter and length of every vessel segment is established and order numbers, according to the diameter-defined Strahler system, are assigned. In conclusion, the present model provides a morphological foundation for future analysis of blood flow in the pulmonary circulation.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Tamaddon et al. (2015) studied Pulmonary vascular tree reconstruction. Three-step computational reconstruction technique was evaluated on Reconstruction of the entire pulmonary arterial tree down to the capillary bed. A novel three-step computational technique successfully reconstructed the entire pulmonary arterial tree down to the capillary bed by combining CT imaging, morphometric data, and Murray's laws.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: