Effects of pulsatile flow pattern and each stage of pressure increasing, constant and decreasing, respectively upon inelastic deformation of blood vessel.

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study is to elucidate the relation of the inelastic expansive deformation of natural blood vessel and the degradation of elasticity to the time pattern of circulating pulsatile pressure flow. When pulsatile pressure amplitude (delta P = Pmax - Pmin) becomes smaller due to Pmin increasing, the blood vessel is subject to creep deformation. In this sense, pulsating pressure will play a role in avoiding creep effect. Fluctuation of maximum pressure Pmax will induce the increase of inelastic deformation and the decrease of rigidity of the blood vessel. The inelastic deformation and the decrease of rigidity in blood vessel is induced at the stage of pressure amplitude rising from a lower one to a higher, but not during pressure amplitude (delta P) kept constant nor at the pressure amplitude decreasing stage. In order to reduce the degradation of mechanical properties of blood vessel, it may be effective to avoid the increase of Pmin and the variability of Pmax.