Mass Accumulation on the Wall of a Stenosed Artery

Abstract

It is pointed out that mass accumulation in an artery, such as LDL accumulation, influences the progression of stenosis severely. Mass accumulation in pulsatile blood flow through a stenosed artery is analyzed numerically. Flow is assumed to be periodic and axisymmetric. Non-Newtonian viscosity of blood and movement of arterial wall are considered. The effect of intermittency, pulsation and wall movement on mass accumulation is investigated. Flow pattern, concentration pattern and distribution of mass accumulation on the wall are obtained. It is found that mass accumulates particularly just upstream and downstream of stenosis. Therefore, it is suggested that the flow structure around stenosis is closely related to mass accumulation just upstream and downstream of stenosis. Mass accumulation decreases at stenosis and increases downstream of stenosis due to wall movement.