Exploring the potential of blood flow network data

To gain a better understanding of the role of haemodynamic forces during the development of the cardiovascular system, a series of studies have been reported recently that describe flow fields in the vasculature of model systems. Such data sets, in particular those reporting networks at multiple stages, mark a transition in the focus from single blood vessels to large parts of vascular networks. It becomes possible to investigate the behaviour of a blood vessel in the context of its surroundings, rather than as an isolated entity. In this study, a framework is presented that facilitates the analysis of such data sets. The blood vessel data is represented as a graph, with each node connected by a vessel segment with known properties. Using this framework the pressure distribution and other parameters of interest can then be estimated. Two examples are given that make use of this scheme: (1) a method to detect and reduce measurement errors in the network and (2) a method that allows the testing of various haemorheological models. For both examples a proof-of-principle result is shown