2. Normal Aortic
Root
Aortic Root with
Coronary
Anomaly
• Coronary anomalies cause problems in young athletes during moments of rapidly
increased blood flow
• Hypothesis: Root expands due to blood flow from heart, and causes coronary looped
around root to decrease in diameter which restricts blood flow to back to the heart
• The full biomechanics of the phenomenon has not been explained, and this study is
expected to do so
Background
3. Objective
Use Abaqus to create a parametric 3 dimensional model of the Aortic Root
Use Finite Element Analysis to understand the effect that diastolic expansion of
the Aortic Root had in causing death in patients with coronary anomalies.
4. Sketch of Idealized Model
Parameters:
h1- 5 mm
α- 120⁰
h2- 10 mm β- 120⁰
h3- 16 mm θ- 120⁰
h4- 5 mm
R1- 11 mm
R2- 11 mm
r1 = r2 = r3 - 12 mm
L1 = L2 = L3 - 16 mm
R4- 11.5 mm
R5- 11.5 mm
TH-2.5 mm
5. Ventriculoaortic Junction
The connection between the left ventricle of the heart and the sinuses of the Aortic Root is the
Ventriculoaortic Junction.
Parameters involved in model:
• R5
• TH
6. Valsalva Sinuses
The Valsalva Sinuses are the defining feature of the Aortic Root. It is a set of three sinuses that
protrude from the general shape of the aorta and house the aortic leaflets. It is also where the
coronaries connect to the root.
Parameters involved in model:
• r1, r2,r3
• L1, L2, L3
• TH
• α, β, θ
7. The Tubular Ascending Aorta
The Tubular Ascending Aorta is the final part of the model, and the farthest part of the model from the
junction of the Aortic Root to the heart.
Parameters involved in model:
• R1
• TH
8. Coronaries
The coronaries are connected to the root at the Valsalva Sinuses and supply blood back to the
heart for healthy heart function. The placement of the coronary that loops around the root is the
main feature of study in this model and analysis, as in a normal aortic root, one coronary would
connect to its own sinus rather than on the same one.
9. Possible Variations of the Model
Idealized
model
Variation 1:
Coronary connection to
Root is higher up the
root
Variation 2:
Coronary connection to root
is lower on the root
• Our model was an idealized parametric
model
• The model, in reality, could be made more
specific to individual patients depending
on the structure of their aortic root
10. 10
Possible Variations of the Model (continued)
We can also have variations of the shape of the root.
Top view of idealized model
First example of
root variation
Second example of
root variation
