A computational approach to generate concurrent arterial networks in vascular territories

• Published in: International journal for numerical methods in biomedical engineering Vol. 29; no. 5; pp. 601 - 614
• Main Authors: Blanco, P. J., de Queiroz, R. A. B., Feijóo, R. A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-05-2013; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Algorithms; angiosomes; Arteries - anatomy & histology; hemodynamics; Hemodynamics - physiology; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted - methods; Models, Cardiovascular; perforator flaps; peripheral beds; source arteries; Upper Extremity - blood supply; vascular anatomy
• ISSN: 2040-7939; 2040-7947
• DOI: 10.1002/cnm.2547

SUMMARY
In this work, a computational procedure is proposed to vascularize anatomical regions supplied by many inflow sites. The proposed methodology creates a partition of the territory to be vascularized into nonoverlapping subdomains that are independently supplied by the so‐called perforator arteries (inflow sites). Then, in each subdomain, the constrained constructive optimization method is used to generate a network of vessels. The identification of subdomains in a certain vascular territory perfused by many perforator arteries turns out to be a fundamental problem towards understanding the morphological conformation of peripheral beds in the cardiovascular system. The methodology is assessed through two academic examples showing the main structural features of the so‐defined vascular territory partition and the corresponding arterial networks. In addition, the vascularization of a three‐dimensional sheet‐like tissue is presented with potential application in flap planning and design. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Vascular territories of the upper limb. A specific territory is chosen to perform concurrent arterial vascularization. Five perforator arteries supply blood to such territory. Vascular territory partitioning has been performed and vascular networks have been generated in each subdomain using the proposed methodology.