Improved Solid Mechanic Model of Aortic Dissection

Aortic dissections form through a tear in the inner layer of the blood vessel wall, such that a dynamic flap separates two lumens of blood flow. This phenomenon can be modelled as a mechanical fracture problem. The evolution of dissection geometry is influenced by the pressure differential between these two lumens as well as the changing stiffness of the dissection flap. However, current finite element analysis (FEA) models of aortic dissection rarely incorporate either of these characteristics and often use idealized rather than patient-specific geometries. We create a more realistic model of aortic dissection progression via a semiautomatic segmentation and meshing workflow, followed by separation of the complex surfaces of the true and false lumens as well as the flap geometry. This allows us to create FEA models of aortic dissections that incorporate differential pressurization of the true and false lumens while varying the flap's material properties. Through studying the impact of varying these parameters on dissections, we hope to better elucidate why certain aortic geometries are more prone to dissection, thereby improving future clinical decision making.