Development of blood analogs for flow visualization and hemolysis investigations

The experimental investigation of blood flow using in vitro models is very important to derive relevant and quantitative information in order to understand the biomechanical conditions resulting from blood flow dynamics. Furthermore, such studies can help us analyze and evaluate flow disturbances caused by pathologies and by cardiovascular prostheses such as aortic valves and left ventricular assist devices (LVAD). For example, these disturbances can range from high shear flow regions causing blood hemolysis to low shear regions resulting in plaque deposition. Flow visualization studies represent a family of methods to study fluid flow through cardiovascular hydraulic models using blood analogs. Thus, for these analogs, two of the main fluid mechanical properties to be reproduced are the bulk kinematic viscosity and shear-thinning of blood. In a first approach, a blood model is developed to simultaneously match the kinematic viscosity of blood and the refractive index of the material of the cardiovascular model for flow visualization experiments. In a second approach, the development of a non-Newtonian blood analog is presented to match the shear-thinning behavior of blood. This approach also allows the development of a blood analog with hemolytic properties. (Abstract shortened by UMI.