Investigation of Hemodynamic Characteristics in Novel Artificial Blood Vessels with Surface Microstructures

This study introduces a novel type of small-diameter artificial blood vessel inspired by the concept of helical flow. It investigates the impact of artificial blood vessels with varying surface microstructures on the hemodynamic characteristics of host blood vessels through numerical simulations. Parameters such as time-averaged wall shear stress (TAWSS), oscillatory shear index (OSI), relative residence time (RRT), and the enhancement of spiral flow intensity within the host artery were examined. The findings indicate that this new small-diameter artificial blood vessel significantly increases flow velocity and wall shear stress in the bypass, reduces OSI and RRT values at the distal anastomotic site, and intensifies spiral flow in the host artery. Among the models tested, the trapezoidal microstructure model exhibited the most favorable outcomes. Moreover, the pitch of the microstructure was found to markedly alter the blood flow environment in the bypass, notably increasing TAWSS at the distal anastomosis and decreasing OSI and RRT values. With a reduction in pitch, the new artificial blood vessel model further minimizes flow separation in host blood vessels and strengthens spiral flow intensity. This study proposes a new type of internal ridge artificial blood vessel, conducting numerical simulations and theoretical analyses to offer fresh theoretical and practical insights for clinical applications in this domain.