Numerical simulation for blood cell distribution in simplified capillary network and oxygen transport to surrounding tissue

Abstract

This study investigates spatial distributions of red blood cells (RBCs) in a simplified capillary network, using a three-dimensional numerical simulation for a fluid-capsule interaction problem. The number of RBCs in the capillary network (called Hematocrit) is roughly controlled and varied by changing the period supplying RBCs into the system, and the RBC distributions in middle channels are investigated through introducing a distribution index. The results show that variations of the RBCs going through different channels are reduced with increasing the overall Hematocrit, owing to a passive regulation mechanism in fluid-mechanical point of view. This outcome infers an important role in oxygen transport and feeding into a tissue region in microcirculation systems.