Effect of calcification on the mechanical stability of plaque based on a three-dimensional carotid bifurcation model

Background: This study characterizes the distribution and components of plaque structure by presenting a three-dimensional blood-vessel modelling with the aim of determining mechanical properties due to the effect of lipid core and calcification within a plaque. Numerical simulation has been used to...

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Main Authors: Wong, K., Thavornpattanapong, P., Cheung, S., Sun, Zhonghua, Tu, J.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Biomed Central 2012
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/39420
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author Wong, K.
Thavornpattanapong, P.
Cheung, S.
Sun, Zhonghua
Tu, J.
author_facet Wong, K.
Thavornpattanapong, P.
Cheung, S.
Sun, Zhonghua
Tu, J.
author_sort Wong, K.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Background: This study characterizes the distribution and components of plaque structure by presenting a three-dimensional blood-vessel modelling with the aim of determining mechanical properties due to the effect of lipid core and calcification within a plaque. Numerical simulation has been used to answer how cap thickness and calcium distribution in lipids influence the biomechanical stress on the plaque. Method: Modelling atherosclerotic plaque based on structural analysis confirms the rationale for plaque mechanical examination and the feasibility of our simulation model. Meaningful validation of predictions from modelled atherosclerotic plaque model typically requires examination of bona fide atherosclerotic lesions. To analyze a more accurate plaque rupture, fluid-structure interaction is applied to three-dimensional blood-vessel carotid bifurcation modelling. A patient-specific pressure variation is applied onto the plaque to influence its vulnerability. Results: Modelling of the human atherosclerotic artery with varying degrees of lipid core elasticity, fibrous cap thickness and calcification gap, which is defined as the distance between the fibrous cap and calcification agglomerate, form the basis of our rupture analysis. Finite element analysis shows that the calcification gap should be conservatively smaller than its threshold to maintain plaque stability. The results add new mechanistic insights and methodologically sound data to investigate plaque rupture mechanics. Conclusion: Structural analysis using a three-dimensional calcified model represents a more realistic simulation of late-stage atherosclerotic plaque. We also demonstrate that increases of calcium content that is coupled with a decrease in lipid core volume can stabilize plaque structurally.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-394202017-09-13T15:59:56Z Effect of calcification on the mechanical stability of plaque based on a three-dimensional carotid bifurcation model Wong, K. Thavornpattanapong, P. Cheung, S. Sun, Zhonghua Tu, J. Background: This study characterizes the distribution and components of plaque structure by presenting a three-dimensional blood-vessel modelling with the aim of determining mechanical properties due to the effect of lipid core and calcification within a plaque. Numerical simulation has been used to answer how cap thickness and calcium distribution in lipids influence the biomechanical stress on the plaque. Method: Modelling atherosclerotic plaque based on structural analysis confirms the rationale for plaque mechanical examination and the feasibility of our simulation model. Meaningful validation of predictions from modelled atherosclerotic plaque model typically requires examination of bona fide atherosclerotic lesions. To analyze a more accurate plaque rupture, fluid-structure interaction is applied to three-dimensional blood-vessel carotid bifurcation modelling. A patient-specific pressure variation is applied onto the plaque to influence its vulnerability. Results: Modelling of the human atherosclerotic artery with varying degrees of lipid core elasticity, fibrous cap thickness and calcification gap, which is defined as the distance between the fibrous cap and calcification agglomerate, form the basis of our rupture analysis. Finite element analysis shows that the calcification gap should be conservatively smaller than its threshold to maintain plaque stability. The results add new mechanistic insights and methodologically sound data to investigate plaque rupture mechanics. Conclusion: Structural analysis using a three-dimensional calcified model represents a more realistic simulation of late-stage atherosclerotic plaque. We also demonstrate that increases of calcium content that is coupled with a decrease in lipid core volume can stabilize plaque structurally. 2012 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/39420 10.1186/1471-2261-12-7 Biomed Central fulltext
spellingShingle Wong, K.
Thavornpattanapong, P.
Cheung, S.
Sun, Zhonghua
Tu, J.
Effect of calcification on the mechanical stability of plaque based on a three-dimensional carotid bifurcation model
title Effect of calcification on the mechanical stability of plaque based on a three-dimensional carotid bifurcation model
title_full Effect of calcification on the mechanical stability of plaque based on a three-dimensional carotid bifurcation model
title_fullStr Effect of calcification on the mechanical stability of plaque based on a three-dimensional carotid bifurcation model
title_full_unstemmed Effect of calcification on the mechanical stability of plaque based on a three-dimensional carotid bifurcation model
title_short Effect of calcification on the mechanical stability of plaque based on a three-dimensional carotid bifurcation model
title_sort effect of calcification on the mechanical stability of plaque based on a three-dimensional carotid bifurcation model
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/39420