Development of Physical Model of the Coronary Artery Circulation

With the development of clinical diagnostic techniques to investigate the coronary circulation in conscious humans, the identification of the correct blood replacement fluid in physical models is of major importance in research. The aim of this study was to identify a blood analogous and ultimately a physical model that is able to mimic the coronary circulation in such a way that coronary pressure and flow signals are approximated as realistically as possible. This model is being proposed so that many issues that cannot be understood from real life coronary arteries can be understood from this 20 times bigger physical model. The physical properties of blood exert a major influence over blood flow patterns. A technique has been developed in the primary stage to see what fluid can be used as a blood analogue in a model, which resembles a human coronary artery in a bigger scale. The Reynold's number, Womerseley parameter, density, viscosity and diameter have been main parameters in the experiment conducted. The fluid obtained closely resembles blood in many aspects and lets the achievement of the heart rate of 1bpm and a flow-rate of 10 l/min, which is desired in the model. The physical model should be made of latex, with a cross-sectional diameter of 6 cm with 72% glycerol solution as blood analogue should be used to achieve desired results. The density and viscosity of the blood analogue was found to be approximately 1.19 g/cm3 and 0.27cP. The flow rate of the pump was set at 1 bpm because we wanted a heart-rate of 1bpm. For further discussions experimental set-ups have been put forward, not only at a section of coronary artery but also at bifurcations. Eventually this model can be used to see effect of stents on blood flow at bifurcations.