Multi-scale transparent arteriole and capillary vessel models for circulation type blood vessel simulator

We proposed a fabrication method for multiscale transparent arteriole and capillary vessel models and demonstrated the fabrication of microchannels with circular cross sections ¿10 - 500 ¿m. First, we demonstrated fabrication of ¿10 - 500 ¿m arteriole and capillary vessel block models using photolithography. The circularity of fabricated ¿10, 50, and 500 ¿m microchannels were 84.0%, 61.5%, and 82.3%, respectively. Flow experiments demonstrated that these channels had no leakage. Next, we proposed a fabrication method for ¿100 - 500 ¿m arteriole membrane models, which connect larger membrane models and smaller block models. These models were prepared with grayscale lithography and a wax and PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) mixture material. The proposed approach overcame the brittleness of a previous sacrificial model fabricated by ink jet rapid prototyping. The membrane model had a circular cross section with a channel circularity of 90%. Finally, we succeeded in making transparent membranous and block arteriole model with which we can simulate blood circulation.