Atherosclerosis is a complex and multi-factorial pathophysiological process. Researches over the past decades have shown that the development of atherosclerotic vulnerable plaque is closely related to its components, morphology, and stress status. Biomechanical models have been developed by combining with medical imaging, biological experiments, and mechanical analysis, to study and analyze the biomechanical factors related to plaque vulnerability. Numerical simulation could quantify the dynamic changes of the microenvironment within the plaque, providing a method to represent the distribution of cellular and acellular components within the plaque microenvironment and to explore the interaction of lipid deposition, inflammation, angiogenesis, and other processes. Studying the pathological mechanism of plaque development would improve our understanding of cardiovascular disease and assist non-invasive inspection and early diagnosis of vulnerable plaques. The biomechanical models and numerical methods may serve as a theoretical support for designing and optimizing treatment strategies for vulnerable atherosclerosis.
动脉粥样硬化是一个复杂的、多因素作用的病理过程。过去十多年的研究结果表明，动脉粥样硬化易损斑块的发展与其构成组分、形态结构和受力状况密切相关。学者们将医学影像、生物实验、力学建模有机地结合起来，利用生物力学模型研究和分析影响斑块易损性的相关力学因素。数值模拟能够定量表述斑块内微环境的动态变化，包括细胞和非细胞组分的分布及其受到的周围微环境的调控，从理论上阐释脂质沉积、炎症反应、新生血管等病理过程的相互作用。研究斑块发展病理机制，能够进一步提高人类对心血管疾病的认识，辅助易损斑块的无创检测和早期诊断，并为设计和优化易损斑块的治疗方案提供一定的参考信息。.
Keywords: atherosclerosis; biomechanics; numerical simulation; vulnerable plaque.