A computer-controlled arbitrary flow generator produced constant flow up to 5 l/min with high accuracy (<1%) and low ripple (−50 dB), making it suitable for in vitro vascular haemodynamic studies.
A novel computer-controlled arbitrary flow wave form generator demonstrates high accuracy and robustness for reproducing human arterial blood flow in vitro.
The ability to reproduce wave forms of the human arterial blood flow in vitro is essential for the study of vascular haemodynamics. The arbitrary flow generator described in this article is designed for this application. The flow generator consists of a progressive cavity pump driven by a computer-controlled servo motor. The chosen pump type offers advantages such as good linearity, high load tolerance and mechanical robustness. The flow generator is capable of producing noninterruptible standard and physiological wave forms. Standard wave forms include sinus, triangular, square and pulse. Three physiological wave forms are predefined: carotid, femoral and aorta. The performance of the flow generator is evaluated in detail. Constant flow up to 5 l/min is generated with high accuracy (1%) and low ripple (−50 dB). The output is virtually insensitive to an increased flow resistance. A back pressure of 0.5 bar results in an output loss of less than 2.5 ml/min. The flow generator has an output bandwidth (−3 dB) of 11 Hz and a maximum slew rate of 2210 ml/s2. No significant difference (p0.001) was found in the motor regulation during load. The achieved performance makes the flow generator very suitable for its application.
Eriksson et al. (Sat,) conducted a other in vascular haemodynamics (in vitro). arbitrary flow generator was evaluated on Performance of the flow generator (accuracy, ripple, output loss, bandwidth, slew rate). A computer-controlled arbitrary flow generator produced constant flow up to 5 l/min with high accuracy (<1%) and low ripple (−50 dB), making it suitable for in vitro vascular haemodynamic studies.