Study of the diffusion of fluid in a coronary artery

Author(s)

Juliana Facchini de Souza

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Carlos.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC/SBD)
• Defense date: 2012-11-29

Examining board members

Adair Roberto Aguiar; Joel Mesa Hormaza; Orivaldo Lopes da Silva

• Advisor: Adair Roberto Aguiar

Abstract

Currently, cardiovascular diseases are known to be the primary cause of death in Brasil and worldwide. These diseases are caused by the malfunction of the arteries, especially the coronary arteries. These arteries have the important role of transporting nutrients to the heart itself, allowing it to exert its main task of providing the rest of the body with essential elements to the survival of an individual. This work is about a study of the diffusion of a fluid through the walls of a coronary artery. First, the composition of the coronary arteries, their functions, and pathologies were studied to extract elements that could be used to construct a model that is both physically realistic and analytically amenable to analysis. Due to its histologic composition in three layers, a coronary artery was modeled as an elastic cylinder composed of hollow and concentric cylinders. The solution of the diffusion problem of a fluid in two and three layers was studied, being this last geometrical configuration the closest to reality. Finally, the diffusion of a drug contained in a pharmacological stent was investigated. The main task of this type of stent is to clear an atherosclerotic artery and to avoid its restenosis. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/14473-0 - A Study of Fluid Diffusion in a Coronary Artery
• Grantee: Juliana Facchini de Souza
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master