title: Hemodynamics and flow characteristics of a new dialysis port.
abstract: Renal replacement therapy by hemodialysis requires a permanent vascular access. Implantable ports offer a potential alternative to standard vascular access strategies although their development is limited both in number and extent. We explored the fluid dynamics within two new percutaneous bone-anchored dialysis port prototypes, both by in vitro experiments and computer simulation. The new port is to be fixed to bone and allows the connection of a dialysis machine to a central venous catheter via a built-in valve. We found that the pressure drop induced by the two ports was between 20 and 50 mmHg at 500 ml/min, which is comparable with commercial catheter connectors (15-80 mmHg). We observed the formation of vortices in both geometries, and a shear rate in the physiological range (<10,000s-1), which is lower than maximal shear rates reported in commercial catheters (up to 13,000s-1). A difference in surface shear rate of 15% between the two ports was obtained.
authors: From the *ARTORG Center for Biomedical Engineering, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; †Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Switzerland; and ‡Department of Nephrology, Hypertension and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Bern, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland.
authors: Jérémie
authors: J
authors: Guignard
authors: Muluken Behran
authors: MB
authors: Terefe
authors: Dominik E
authors: DE
authors: Uehlinger
authors: Justyna
authors: J
authors: Czerwinska
mesh_terms: D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000295:instrumentation*; D062666:Vascular Access Devices