Local contributions to pulse transmission through heterogeneous media (haemodynamics application)

Expressions are presented that permit evaluation of observed phenomena that relate to pulses propagating in the presence of multiple reflection sites in complex biosystems. The first arriving wave fraction can be extracted from the total wave observed at any site, and the contribution to the observed wave by each local region and reflection site can be evaluated. Upstream and downstream reflection coefficients at a site may differ completely or vary only in sign; thus, discrete branching systems as well as layered media can be accommodated. An application illustrates the potential contribution of reflection phenomena to unanticipated stratification of microscopic particles in a heterogeneous system.<
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