Computational Analysis of the Effects of Fiber Deformation on the Microstructure and Permeability of Blood Oxygenator Bundles.
Ann Biomed Eng
; 52(4): 1091-1105, 2024 Apr.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38349442
ABSTRACT
Mechanical loads on the polymeric fibers of oxygenating bundles are commonly present due to bundle press-fitting during device assembly and blood pressure load. However, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations for fiber bundle optimization neglect possible changes in microstructure due to such deformations. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of fiber deformability on bundle microstructure and fluid dynamics mainly in terms of permeability. Fibers from commercial mats typically used for blood oxygenators were mechanically tested and based on these experimental data, a material model was developed to simulate the structural deformations the fibers undergo under press-fitting and blood pressure loads. Then, CFD simulations were performed on deformed bundle repetitive units to investigate permeability under varying loading conditions. The effects of different bundle geometric parameters on the variation of bundle permeability due to press-fitting were evaluated. Bundle press-fitting results in significant changes in microstructure that are reflected in a bundle permeability more than halved for a 15% press-fitting. This impact on permeability is present in all the simulated fiber bundles and becomes more pronounced as the pitch between fibers and thus bundle porosity decreases. Instead, the analyses on pressurized bundle show only small deformations caused by pressure load, with permeability changes below 1%. While blood pressure effects could be neglected, bundle press-fitting turns out to have a significant impact on bundle microstructure and permeability. Neglecting such microstructure variations during CFD simulations could also lead to incorrect assessment of the local fluid dynamics within the bundle.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Oxigenadores de Membrana
/
Hidrodinâmica
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Ann Biomed Eng
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Itália