Patent ID: 7862340

Claim:
A method for simulating the release of a radiopaque dye within a vasculature system, the method comprising the computer implemented steps of: (a) simulating a vessel tree of the vasculature system for display on a display device, the vessel tree comprising a confined vessel space defined by vessel walls; (b) activating a particle based contrast software effect comprising at least one emitter node; (c) dynamically creating a plurality of particles from the emitter node whereby each particle inherits an initial trajectory and initial velocity from the emitter node and whereby the initial trajectory of a selected particle varies from an initial angle of flow by no more than a select angle; (d) modifying the trajectory and velocity of a plurality of particles in reaction to a vessel flow which is different from the initial trajectory and initial velocity: such that the particles having modified trajectory and velocity are subsequently moving in substantially the same direction as the vessel flow; (e) fading down over a period of time an opacity of each of said plurality of particles; and (f) opacifying a portion of a vessel wall over said period of time.