Quantifying particle adhesion to the ureteral walls during peristaltic flow

Area of Science:

• Fluid dynamics
• Biophysics
• Particle transport

Background:

• Peristaltic flow is crucial in biological systems, influencing particle transport.
• Understanding particle behavior in such flows is key for biological and medical applications.
• Particle dynamics are complex and influenced by flow characteristics and channel geometry.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate particle motion under peristaltic flow conditions.
• To analyze particle trajectories for different flow regimes (trapping, augmented, backward).
• To develop methods for predicting particle adhesion to channel walls.

Main Methods:

• Simulating particle trajectories using the Basset-Boussinesq-Oseen (BBO) equation.
• Modeling fluid flow with a two-dimensional Navier-Stokes equation.
• Analyzing particle behavior in various peristaltic flow scenarios.

Main Results:

• Augmented peristaltic flow resulted in the largest net horizontal particle displacement.
• Particle motion is dependent on location within the channel due to wall curvature effects.
• Some particles aggregate and move with the flow, while others deposit on the walls.

Conclusions:

• Particle displacement is maximized under augmented flow conditions.
• Wall curvature significantly impacts particle trajectories and velocities.
• Empirical relations are proposed to quantify particle adhesion over time, relevant for biological processes.