Trial to Detect the local hematocrit distribution within the micro-tube blood flow

Abstract

The blood's apparent viscosity decreases, when the micro-tube diameter becomes less than 300μm. This phenomenon is called as Fahraeus-Lindqvist effect. In addition, as the erythrocytes aged, their density increases and their deformability deteriorates. Circulating erythrocytes' deformability level would be various. Therefore, the microvascular flow behavior would depend on the individual erythrocyte's deformability. The objective of this study is to evaluate relationship of the erythrocyte's density and its rheology in the micro-tube flow. Erythrocytes were divided into ten density levels by pipetting after centrifugation. Then, the 40% Hematocrit blood was prepared using only same density erythrocytes and Phosphate Buffered Saline Solution. The prepared blood sample was inserted into our specially manufactured micro-tube with the various volume flow rates. Then the blood flow was recorded through the microscopy. It was predicted that the blood flow of lighter density erythrocytes had more relative increase in hematocrit at radial center position.