Abstract
[Background] The ultrasonography is a useful method of measuring blood flow. However, this method is difficult to apply to the vessels in the deep part of the body. Therefore, we proposed a method using a computational model for evaluating blood flow. In this study, we made a comparison of waveforms of the blood flow in the extremities obtained by ultrasonography and by the simulation. [Methods] We measured blood flow in five arteries (the carotid artery, branchial artery, radial artery, popliteal artery, and tibial artery) in three healthy 25-year-old men using ultrasound diagnostic equipment. Simulation was performed using an entire cardiovascular system model. [Results] The simulated blood flow waveforms obtained from the upper extremities were similar to the measured ones. However, in the lower extremities, large negative waveforms in late ejection, which were observed in the blood flow obtained by ultrasonography, were not observed in the simulated waveforms. [Conclusions] The simulated blood flow waveforms were similar to the measured ones in upper extremities. However, further modification of this model is required to simulate blood flow in the lower extremities.
