Fig. 2: In silico optimization of the blood flow path.
From: Feasibility of an implantable bioreactor for renal cell therapy using silicon nanopore membranes
Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling was performed iteratively to optimize the geometry of the blood flow path, with special considerations made for the U-turn which connects the blood inlet and outlet ports (a) and the transition from the circular blood inlet/outlet shape to the rectangular cross-section of the parallel-plate arrangement of the SNM (b). A time-varying mass flow rate inlet boundary condition previously derived from animal data was utilized. The conduit geometry was modified until the wall shear stress was noted to be above the lower threshold of 1 Pa to reduce the risk of thrombosis formation but stayed well below the higher ranges associated with hemolysis (c). A low pressure drop of 20–35 mmHg was predicted for the U-turn flow path (d).
