Closed-Loop Hydraulic Circuit for Pulsatile Blood Flow Simulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current in vitro studies fail to accurately mimic the complexities of blood flow in vessels, limiting their ability to effectively study pathological diseases like atherosclerosis and aneurysms, and there is a need for a more realistic model to test potential therapeutic solutions.
Innovation Solution
A closed-loop hydraulic circuit system that simulates blood flow using computational fluid dynamics, incorporating a constant flow pump and a pulsating pump to recreate pulsatile blood flow conditions, along with sensors and a control unit to regulate pressure and flow, allowing for real-time adaptation to mimic physiological conditions in a biological sample.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple flow system is used for in vitro studies, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to accurately mimic blood flow conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two independent pump components: a constant flow pump to maintain baseline flow rate and a pulsating pump to superimpose physiological pulsations. This segmentation allows each pump to be optimized for its specific function while together they create realistic blood flow conditions without requiring a single complex pump system.
Solution Approach 2:
The constant flow from the first pump and the pulsating flow from the second pump are merged in the test chamber to create a combined flow that accurately mimics physiological blood flow conditions. This merging allows the system to achieve realistic flow characteristics that neither pump could produce alone.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a constant flow pump is used, then the flow rate stability is improved, but the ability to reproduce pulsatile blood flow deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the output of a constant flow pump (providing stable baseline flow) with a pulsating pump (providing physiological variations). The constant pump ensures flow stability while the pulsating pump adds the necessary variability to reproduce realistic blood flow patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The pulsating pump introduces periodic flow variations that mimic the natural pulsatile nature of blood flow during the cardiac cycle. This periodic action is superimposed on the constant flow to create physiologically relevant flow conditions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a pulsating pump is used to simulate cardiac cycle, then the physiological realism is improved, but the flow rate control precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The flow control function is segmented between two pumps: the constant flow pump maintains precise baseline flow control, while the pulsating pump adds physiological variations. This segmentation allows each pump to excel at its specific function without compromising overall precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The constant flow pump acts as an intermediary that provides a stable baseline flow, upon which the pulsating pump can superimpose physiological variations. This intermediary approach ensures that the pulsations are added to a controlled foundation, maintaining overall flow control precision.
4Reliability
If in vivo testing is used to study blood flow pathologies, then the physiological accuracy is improved, but the ethical concerns and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a realistic in vitro copy of in vivo blood flow conditions by combining constant and pulsating flow components. This copying approach allows physiological studies to be conducted outside living organisms while maintaining physiological accuracy, avoiding ethical concerns and reducing costs associated with in vivo testing.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides a realistic in vitro model that closely replicates human blood flow, enabling detailed study of endothelial cell responses to hemodynamic forces and facilitating the testing of potential therapeutic solutions, improving understanding and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
Implementation Method 1
a constant flow pump for pumping the liquid out of the tank for imposing, in use, an average constant flow in the hydraulic circuit
Implementation Method 2
a pulsating pump for superimposing to said average constant flow a variable flow having a zero average flow rate
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention discloses a closed-loop hydraulic circuit for in vitro simulation of blood flow and for testing the effect of such simulated flow on a biological sample, comprising: - a tank for storing a flowing liquid; - a constant flow pump for pumping the liquid out of the tank for imposing, in use, an average constant flow in the hydraulic circuit; - a pulsating pump for superimposing to said average constant flow a variable flow having a zero average flow rate; - a test section for receiving a biological sample to be tested under flow conditions imposed by the said means; - means for regulating the pressure downstream of the test section; - pressure and flow sensors for sensing pressure and flow conditions in the test section; - means for measuring and collecting biological data in the test section; - a control unit comprising regulation means for controlling the constant flow pump and the pulsating pump.