title: Effects of arterial port design on blood flow distribution in hemodialyzers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Blood flow profiles in fiber bundles depend on the design of the arterial port and affects the biocompatibility of the hemodialyzer. We analyzed the effects of arterial port design on blood flow distribution in fiber bundles using nonintrusive imaging techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  The velocity fields in arterial ports and the hemodynamics in fiber bundles were analyzed for hemodialyzers with different configurations using particle image velocimetry and perfusion computed tomography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In a hemodialyzer with standard arterial ports, high blood flow profiles in the central and peripheral regions and low blood profiles in the middle region were developed due to jet flow and vortices around the jet. In a hemodialyzer with spiral arterial ports, higher flow profiles were developed due to the central vortices that decrease perfusion into the fiber bundles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The arterial port design of hemodialyzers should be optimized such that jet flow and vortices do not impair dialysis efficiency and biocompatibility.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, Medical Research Center, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Chul
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ji Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jaeyong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: Hyo-Cheol
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eungtaek
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Seok Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jung Kyung
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hee Chan
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Byoung Goo
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ronco
mesh_terms: D001158:Arteries; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D006801:Humans; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods