Abstract
Filtration properties of PVA plasma separators with various geometric parameters were studied in vitro test. Plasma flux is directly related to wall shear rate, and good relationship of plasma flux to wall shear rate with high correlation was obtained for various types of module with surface area ranged from 0.07 to 1.65m2. Smaller number of fibers and thus surface area at a given length of module gave higher wall shear rate leading increase of plasma flux, and also higher differential pressure drop across blood channel leading decline of plasma flux. The module with smaller diameter of fiber gave higher wall shear rate and lower priming volume compared to that with larger one at a given surface area. Optimization of module design is achieved by consideration of wall shear rate and pressure drop effects.
