Multiphase Vascular CFD Analysis for Accurate Blood Flow Assessment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for analyzing blood flow conditions using CFD are inadequate for comprehensively reflecting the actual condition and changing rules of vascular regions, and inaccurately selecting time phases can lead to deviations in results.

Innovation Solution

A method and system employing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to analyze blood flow by correlating vascular models across multiple time phases, generating grids, and determining conditions such as blood velocity, pressure, and wall stress, using image segmentation and reconstruction techniques to create accurate vascular models.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a single time phase is used for CFD analysis, then the analysis is simple and fast, but it cannot comprehensively reflect the actual condition and changing rules of the vascular region

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanalysis speedVSAvoidcomprehensive blood flow information
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the blood flow analysis into multiple discrete time phases (e.g., systole, diastole, and intermediate phases). Each time phase is analyzed separately using CFD, allowing comprehensive capture of blood flow characteristics while maintaining manageable computational complexity for each phase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs periodic analysis of blood flow at multiple time phases throughout the cardiac cycle. By systematically analyzing each phase in sequence and correlating the results, the method comprehensively reflects the dynamic changing rules of blood flow without requiring continuous real-time computation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Loss of information

If multiple time phases are analyzed using CFD, then comprehensive blood flow conditions are obtained, but the device complexity and computational requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomprehensive blood flow informationVSAvoidCFD analysis system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions by first obtaining multi-phase imaging data (CTA or MRA) and reconstructing vascular models before conducting CFD analysis. Boundary conditions for each time phase are pre-defined based on physiological parameters, reducing the complexity during the actual CFD computation phase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates simplified computational models that copy the essential geometric features of the actual vasculature from medical images. These simplified models retain the critical anatomical characteristics needed for accurate CFD analysis while reducing mesh complexity and computational requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Device complexity

If time phases are selected inaccurately, then the analysis is simpler, but the results deviate from actual blood flow conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanalysis procedure simplicityVSAvoidblood flow parameter accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms by correlating CFD results across multiple time phases to validate and refine the analysis. The system checks whether the blood flow parameters at different phases are consistent with physiological expectations, allowing for adjustment of time phase selection and boundary conditions to improve accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent systematically varies key parameters such as blood flow rate, pressure, and viscosity across different time phases based on physiological data. By adjusting these parameters to reflect actual cardiac cycle variations, the analysis maintains high accuracy while following a standardized procedure that balances simplicity and precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4393386B1Analyzing a blood flow condition
Publication Date: 2026.04.08 SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE
  • EP4393386B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4393386B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4393386B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The present application relates to a method and system for analyzing blood flow conditions. The method includes: obtaining images at multiple time phases; constructing multiple vascular models corresponding to the multiple time phases; correlating the multiple vascular models; setting boundary conditions of the multiple vascular models respectively based on the result of correlation; and determining condition of blood vessel of the vascular models.