Understanding Particle Transport In Human Vascular Network Using In Vitro Benchtop Flow Modeling*

The transport and distribution of particles in the human vascular network play several major roles in physiological phenomena in health and disease. Tracking particles in vasculature in vivo remains a methodological challenge, while in silico modeling involves key assumptions and limitations regarding particle size and flow environment. Here we discuss the development of a physiologically realistic in vitro benchtop flow-loop to track the transport and distribution of particles across human vasculature. Specifically, we illustrate a study on tracking representative embolic particles through a 3D printed phantom of the human common carotid bifurcation and summarize the trends in resulting particle distribution. We will discuss observations on anatomically representative particles driven at different flow speeds and with different temporal wave forms through: (a) idealized phantom models; and (b) anatomically accurate arterial phantom models; and demonstrate how these factors affect the distribution of embolic particles through the common carotid artery. The in vitro design and results are compared and contrasted against an in silico model for embolus transport across the same phantom models, to assess the functionality and accuracy of our approach.