Blood flow in simple microchannels

Development of medical micro-assay systems must be based on an understanding of blood flow mechanics at scales of tens to hundreds of microns. This study investigated the use of a simple power law model for blood flow of between 2.5 and 100 /spl mu/l/min in channels with 200/spl times/60 /spl mu/m cross-sections and the following configurations: straight, 90 degree bend, and sudden contraction from 200 to 100 /spl mu/m. Experimental measurements of pressure vs. flow rate for blood flow in these channels were compared to predictions generated by CFD simulations. The experiments and simulations were consistent in their predictions of the magnitude of hydrodynamic resistances of the channels and the slight non-linearity of pressure vs. flow in each of the channel configurations.