Abstract
The study of the arterial system from a mechanical point of view dates back several hundred, if not thousands of years. Elaborate models of the circulation have been developed to describe macro- and micro-scale phenomena related to physiologic function and disease formation. Collaborations between engineers and biologists have led to important information on how these mechanical phenomena directly affect arterial tissue. The understanding of arterial mechanics has also benefited tremendously from advances in computational sciences. It is now possible to model almost any aspect of arterial fluid mechanics and/or solid mechanics with a great deal of sophistication. The challenge to researchers in this field has thus switched from developing modeling capabilities to applying the results to improving health care. Arterial modeling has been employed to improve by-pass graft technology and intravascular devices such as stents. Other areas of cardiovascular disease treatment that will benefit from further modeling-oriented research include aneurysms, arterio-venous malformations, and venous diseases.
