Modelo de simulação da dinâmica de cateteres rotacionais de aterectomia

Abstract

This work presents the development of a computational model for simulating the dynamics of atherectomy catheters in coronary bifurcations, aiming to evaluate the hemodynamic effects associated with their operation. Idealized geometries of the left coronary tree were constructed, incorporating devices at different axial positions and with geometric variations. The computational simulations were carried out in a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) environment, considering three-dimensional models and transient conditions representative of the pulsatile coronary regime, under physiologically realistic boundary conditions, featuring a pulsatile inlet profile and outlet pressures consistent with the literature. From the results, distributions of velocity and wall shear stress (WSS) were obtained, as well as derived metrics such as the Oscillatory Shear Index (OSI) and the Time-Averaged Wall Shear Stress (TAWSS). The analyses revealed differences between catheter geometries, indicating regions of high shear stress near the device and areas of low shear associated with flow recirculation. These findings contribute to the understanding of endothelial injury risks and to the improvement of design parameters. Finally, the developed model shows potential for adaptation to different geometric configurations, providing a methodological foundation for future studies focused on optimizing and enhancing atherectomy devices, as well as supporting engineering processes and the development of new products.