Axial flow velocity patterns in a pulmonary artery model with varying degrees of valvular pulmonic stenosis: pulsatile in vitro studies

With the advent of noninvasive clinical techniques which can measure blood flow velocities (Doppler ultrasound), it is suggested that a fundamental knowledge of the axial flow velocity patterns in the pulmonary artery, and the changes caused by stenosis, may be used to support accurate diagnosis of valvular pulmonic stenosis. The present study was designed to characterize the axial flow velocity patterns in an in vitro model of a human adult pulmonary artery with varying degrees of valvular pulmonic stenosis. A two-dimensional laser Doppler anemometer (LDA) system was used to map the flow fields in the main (MPA), left (LPA), and right (RPA) branches of the pulmonary artery model. The study was conducted in the Georgia Tech. right heart pulse duplicator system. It was observed that the axial flow velocity patterns in the MPA and the LPA change dramatically with increasing degree of valvular stenosis. This indicates that the axial flow velocity patterns in these two branches are strongly influenced by the degree of valvular stenosis. The axial flow velocity patterns in the RPA, however, do not change much with varying degrees of valvular stenosis, indicating that the axial flow fields in the RPA are mainly influenced by the geometry of the bifurcation. It may be concluded therefore, that the changes in the axial flow velocity patterns in the MPA and LPA (rather than in the RPA) could be sensitive and reliable indicators of the severity of the defect.