The hemodynamic comparison of different carotid artery bifurcation angles based on patient-specific models

Carotidatherosclerosis is related to cerebrovascular diseases. The anatomic features of the carotid artery may influence the hemodynamics within the vessel and therefore stimulate atherosclerotic process. This paper establishes two three-dimensional patient-specific models of the carotid artery. By changing the bifurcation angle while keeping the physiological morphology of the carotid artery, we investigate the hemodynamic variations and discuss their relationships to atherosclerosis. The results indicate: (i) the volume flow rate ratio of internal- to-external carotid artery decreases while the external-to-common carotid artery angle and the internal-to-common carotid artery angle increase; (ii) the enlargement of the angle (either external-to-common carotid artery angle or internal- to-common carotid artery angle) can reduce the region of low time-averaged wall shear stress (<0.3Pa) on the affected internal or external carotid artery, a positive effect to protect further plaque formations; and (iii) changing of the bifurcation angle presents littleeffects on the velocity, pressure and wall shear stress distributions in the carotid artery.