Hemolysis Prediction by using a Power-Law Mathematical Model in an Aortic Arterial Section

Published in: Engineering Innovations for Global Sustainability: Proceedings of the 14th Latin American and Caribbean Conference for Engineering and Technology
Date of Conference: July 20-22, 2016
Location of Conference: San Jose, Costa Rica
Authors: Marta Vílchez Monge
Gabriela Ortiz León
José Miguel Barboza Retana
Refereed Paper: #116

Abstract:

This paper describes the development of a method to calculate mechanical hemolysis experimented by red blood cells (RBCs) in the aortic arterial section. The solution was divided in two parts or models named dRBC-c1 and dRBC-m1. The first one was used to obtain the rheological behavior of the blood in the aortic section and then calculate the RBCs trajectories. This model was developed using COMSOL Multiphysics® and based on previous [1] [2]. The second model was implemented using Matlab® and used to calculate the hemolysis experimented by the RBCs under analysis in the dRBC-c1 model. The mathematical model used in this work to calculate the hemolysis is based on a modification of the power law proposed in [3]. This formulation was selected because it considers the effect of mechanical loading history experimented by the RBCs. A Study of four RBCs was done and several results are shown (trajectories, velocity particles, shear stress and hemolysis results). From the results, it is observed that small shear stress values don’t produce a lot of RBCs damage, however if these values increase, the damage rises faster.