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Steady Flow in a Patient-Averaged Inferior Vena Cava—Part II: Computational Fluid Dynamics Verification and Validation

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Abstract

Purpose

The embolus trapping performance of inferior vena cava (IVC) filters critically depends on how emboli flow through the IVC and, thereby, on the underlying hemodynamics. Most previous studies of IVC hemodynamics have used computational fluid dynamics (CFD), but few have validated their results by comparing with quantitative experimental measurements of the flow field and none have validated in an anatomical model of the IVC that includes the primary morphological features that influence the hemodynamics (iliac veins, infrarenal curvature, and non-circular vessel cross-section). In this study, we perform verification and validation of CFD simulations in a patient-averaged anatomical model of the IVC.

Methods

Because we are most interested in the fluid dynamics that influence embolus transport and IVC filter embolus trapping, we focus our analyses on the velocity distribution and the amount of swirl and mixing in the infrarenal IVC. A rigorous mesh refinement study is first conducted at the highest flow rate condition to verify the computed solutions. To validate the CFD predictions of the flow patterns, we then compare with particle image velocimetry (PIV) data acquired in the same model in two planes (coronal and sagittal) within the infrarenal IVC at two flow rates corresponding to rest and exercise conditions.

Results

Using unstructured hexahedral meshes ranging in size from 800,000 to 102.5 million computational cells, we demonstrate that a coarse mesh may be used to resolve the gross flow patterns and velocity distribution in the IVC. A finer mesh is, however, required to obtain asymptotic mesh convergence of swirl and mixing in the IVC, as quantified by the local normalized helicity, LNH, and the volume-averaged helicity intensity, \(\overline{HI}\). Based on the results of the mesh refinement study, we use a moderately fine mesh containing approximately 26 million cells for comparison with experimental data. The validation study demonstrates excellent qualitative agreement between CFD predictions and PIV measurements of the velocity field at both conditions. Quantitatively, we show that the global relative comparison error, E, between CFD and PIV ranges from 3 to 11%. By performing sensitivity studies, we demonstrate that the quantitative discrepancy is attributable to a combination of uncertainty in the inlet flow rates and uncertainty associated with precisely aligning the PIV data with the CFD geometry.

Conclusions

Overall, the study demonstrates mesh-convergent CFD simulations that predict IVC flow patterns that agree reasonably well with PIV data, even at exercise conditions where the flow in the IVC is extremely complex.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Joshua Soneson and Tina Morrison for reviewing the manuscript. This study was funded by the U.S. FDA Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) Critical Path program. The research was supported in part by an appointment to the Research Participation Program at the U.S. FDA administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education through an interagency agreement between the U.S. Department of Energy and FDA. The simulations were performed using the computational resources of the high-performance computing clusters at the U.S. FDA. The findings and conclusions in this article have not been formally disseminated by the FDA and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy. The mention of commercial products, their sources, or their use in connection with material reported herein is not to be construed as either an actual or implied endorsement of such products by the Department of Health and Human Services.

Conflict of interest

B. A. Craven, K. I. Aycock, and K. B. Manning declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

No human studies were carried out by the authors for this article. No animal studies were carried out by the authors for this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Applied Mechanics, Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA

    Brent A. Craven & Kenneth I. Aycock

  2. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA

    Keefe B. Manning

Authors
  1. Brent A. Craven
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Correspondence to Brent A. Craven.

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Associate Editors Dr. David A. Steinman, Dr. Francesco Migliavacca, and Dr. Ajit P. Yoganathan oversaw the review of this article.

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Craven, B.A., Aycock, K.I. & Manning, K.B. Steady Flow in a Patient-Averaged Inferior Vena Cava—Part II: Computational Fluid Dynamics Verification and Validation. Cardiovasc Eng Tech 9, 654–673 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13239-018-00392-0

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