Vascular Mechanics and Pathology

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xxiii

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2. Atherosclerosis I

   Pages 1-19

3. Atherosclerosis II

   Pages 20-44

4. Structure and Mechanics of the Artery

   Pages 45-81

5. Pressure Vessel Principles

   Pages 82-106

6. Pressure Vessel Intersections

   Pages 107-138

7. Stress-Concentration in the Artery I

   Pages 139-165

8. Stress-Concentration in the Artery II

   Pages 166-213

9. Endothelial Cells and Low-Density Lipoproteins at the Branch

   Pages 214-254

10. Smooth Muscle Cells and Stretch

    Pages 255-280

11. Stress Reduction and Atherosclerosis Reduction

    Pages 281-319

12. The Vein Graft

    Pages 320-367

13. Anastomosis

    Pages 368-379

14. Anastomotic Aneurysms and Anastomotic Intimal Hyperplasia

    Pages 380-402

15. Intracranial Aneurysms

    Pages 403-425

16. Aortic Aneurysms

    Pages 426-468

17. Aortic Dissection

    Pages 469-483

18. Back Matter

    Pages 485-494

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Nowhere in the scientific progress has the schism in the knowledge been as striking as in the case of vascular mechanics and pathology. This joint subject would serve as a classic example of science developed in two different directions. It provided the motivation to put forth this book and establish a correlation between vascular mechanics and pathology. The book focuses on the artery and arterial diseases. The most fundamental functions of the artery are (1) to serve as a conduit of blood flow and (2) to serve as a container of blood pressure. The artery carries the blood to all organs of the body and it uses pressure to drive the blood through the tissue to provide nourishment. Hence, the artery is both a pipe and a pressure vessel. The artery pulsates about 103,000 times a day along with the beating heart. In a lifetime, the artery sustains cyclic pressure for about 3. 8 billion cycles. This obviously poses a significant challenge to the artery and therefore the artery must be endowed with special structure and properties to meet this challenge. In the event that additional challenges are imposed, such as high blood pressure, it would not be surprising that the artery could “break down” or become diseased. In the book, we examine the structure and properties of the artery and study the challenges imposed on it with a view to understand the survival of and the development of the diseases in the artery.

• biomedical engineering
• cardiovascular
• endothelium
• medical devices
• smooth muscle

• Edwards Distinguished Research Scientist, Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, USA

  Mano J. Thubrikar

Dr. Mano J. Thubrikar has been with Edwards Lifesciences since December 2004. Previously, he was the Director of the Biomedical Engineering Program at the Heineman Medical Research Center at Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC. Dr. Thubrikar is a recipient of the Research Career Development Award from the National Institute of Health, the Certificate of Merit awarded by the New York Academy of Medicine, and the Minna-James Heineman Stiftung Research Award for Outstanding Research Achievements in the area of Life Sciences.

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