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Effect of wall hardness on hemolysis
T Yasuda1, K Shimokasa, A Funakubo
1Frontier R&D Center, Tokyo Denki University;Field of Mechanical Engineering, Polytechnic University; and Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, Tokyo Denki University, Tokyo, Japan.
Artificial Organs
|September 6, 2000
Summary
Reducing hemolysis in artificial organs is crucial. This study found that adjusting silicone rubber hardness in artificial organs can lower blood damage and hemolysis rates.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Fluid Dynamics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Hemolysis is a major challenge in artificial organ development.
- Current design methods lack quantitative links between flow dynamics and blood damage.
- Understanding blood flow behavior is key to reducing hemolysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between physical forces, specifically pressure in collision flow, and hemolysis.
- To explore methods for reducing blood damage in artificial organs.
Main Methods:
- In vitro testing using bovine blood and a circulation model with a wall collision jet flow.
- Varied the thickness (and thus hardness) of silicone rubber surfaces contacting the blood flow.
Main Results:
- Increasing the rate of hemolysis was lower when the surface was coated by silicone rubber.
- Softer silicone rubber surfaces demonstrated a reduced rate of hemolysis compared to harder surfaces.
Conclusions:
- Adjusting material hardness, specifically using softer silicone rubber, can effectively reduce hemolysis.
- This finding offers a potential strategy for designing artificial organs with less blood damage.