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Plasma skimming in serial microvascular bifurcations
1Department of Chemical Engineering, University of New Hampshire, Durham 03824-3591.
Microvascular Research
|September 1, 1990
Summary
Red blood cell distribution in microvascular networks can be asymmetric. This asymmetry depends on flow distribution and junction spacing, but symmetry is regained as spacing increases relative to flow rate.
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Biophysics
- Fluid Dynamics
Background:
- Red blood cell distribution is crucial for oxygen delivery in microcirculation.
- Understanding flow dynamics in bifurcating networks is key to microvascular research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally investigate red cell distribution in simple bifurcating networks.
- To identify key parameters influencing asymmetry in red cell flux at bifurcations.
Main Methods:
- Experimental study of red cell distribution in two-bifurcation networks.
- Analysis of fractional red cell flux and volumetric flow curves.
- Varying parameters like fractional flow (Q1*) and junction spacing to flow rate ratio (z/Q).
Main Results:
- Fractional red cell flux/volumetric flow curves can exhibit asymmetry downstream of bifurcations.
- Asymmetry is influenced by Q1* and z/Q.
- Increased z/Q ratio attenuates asymmetry, leading to symmetric phase separation in 50-micron tubes (z/Q > 200 sec/mm²) and 25-micron tubes (z/Q > 50 sec/mm²).
Conclusions:
- Flow history significantly impacts red cell distribution in microvascular networks.
- Symmetry in red cell distribution is recovered when junctions are further apart relative to flow rate.
- Findings align with in vivo data, highlighting the importance of junction proximity and flow rates.