Integrating in-vivo Data in CFD Simulations and in in-vitro Experiments of the Hemodynamic in Healthy and Pathologic Thoracic Aorta

A comparison between the results obtained integrating in-vivo measurements in numerical simulations and in-vitro experiments is presented. Three aorta geometries are considered: a patient-specific healthy aorta, an aneurysmal aorta, and a coarctated aorta, both derived from the former geometry. Hemodynamic simulations are carried out by using the open-source code Simvascular. In-vitro data are obtained by a fully controlled and sensorized circulatory mock loop for 3D-printed aortic models. This experimental setup allows the elimination of a few uncertainties conversely present in in-vivo data: the flow rate is controlled and the same waveform is present in each cardiac cycle, the model is fixed, and the wall model properties are known. In this way, clearer indications can be obtained to assess and possibly to improve the accuracy of CFD models. The comparison between CFD and in-vitro data is excellent for all the considered cases. The agreement with in-vivo data is satisfactory and consistent with the possible controlled and uncontrolled differences with the numerical and in-vitro set-up. The validated CFD and in-vitro platforms are then used to investigate in detail the hemodynamics and to point out, in particular, the differences between the healthy and pathological cases.