Computerized Biomechanical Perfusion Model

This article focuses on the development of a completely computerized perfusion system for studies dealing with intact blood vessels. Most perfusion systems of the time and even currently focus on endothelial cell culturing. Thus the perfusion system used in the study was one that incorporated intact blood vessels. The developed system also was to be used to allow for prolonged or chronic vessel perfusion, keeping essential fluid mechanical forces at target levels, and control of the metabolic environment. This control of metabolic environment includes pH levels, oxygen levels and temperature for example. There was a computerized feedback control of the system through usage of a LabView Virtual Instrument. The VI was used to receive vessel radius/ diameter readings from a ultrasonographic reader and calculate resulting shear stress. If the shear stress was not within a target level the system automatically adjusted pressure or flow to return shear stress to the target level. This automatic adjustment also applied to temperature, CO₂ levels, and pH; if the metabolic parameters were not of a designated range the system adjusted them. The study also observed PGE2 levels compared to shear stress; this would help in understanding prostaglandin E2 level release in relation to vascular tone and remodeling. This article was interesting to me because I am currently developing a sterilized perfusion system for chronic studies on intact lymphatic vessels that will work in a similar manner only accounting for the pump-like nature of the lymphatic vessels by controling inlet and outlet pressure.

http://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/25627