A new coronary model for MRI perfusion studies

This paper proposes a modified Windkessel model applied to the coronary circulation and first pass imaging techniques. A compartmental description of the blood flow is used. The compartments taken into account are the arteries, capillaries, lymphatic and venous systems, extravascular /extracellular and cellular domains. In addition the model includes mass transport by blood flow between compartments. The predictions of the model are presented in the simple case of first pass output concentration curves obtained with MR contrast agent in a non-beating blood perfused pig heart. The first results are obtained for low and high input flows in a normal heart. The last one is a simulation of an ischemic heart behavior. The results are in a good agreement with the experimental data from the normal heart and with the characteristic behavior of the microcirculation in the ischemic heart. In conclusion this method which integrates both pressure-flow-volume and mass transport models would be well adapted for the modelisation or perfusion imaging studies.