Abstract
Understanding hemodynamics is essential for understanding vascular disease development, accurately diagnosing the disease, and studying disease progression. A vector Doppler system has been developed and used to conduct detailed studies of the post stenotic flow field in hopes of furthering this understanding. This paper presents the initial experiments on a steady flow model, specifically, the results for a 40% diameter reducing stenosis with flow rates ranging from 10 cm3/s to 75 cm3/s. The centerstream jet, recirculation zone, shear layer, and turbulent jet break down could all be delineated. The variance in flow velocity, evaluated through spectral broadening bandwidth and turbulent intensity, provided an alternative approach to imaging the flow downstream of a stenosis. The downstream position of maximum turbulent intensity was also identified, and an analysis of eddies present within the shear layer conducted. Each of these parameters potentially contributes toward identification of the initiation, extent, and progression of plaque formation, as well as the interrelation between hemodynamics and vascular remodeling.
