Pulsation, also known as arterial pulsation, is caused by the rhythmic expansion of peripheral arteries, which occurs each time the ventricles contract and send blood into the aorta. The pulsation can be felt by palpating the superficial arteries.

Pulsatile flow refers to the flow characteristics of a fluid where the flow velocity or flow rate varies periodically over time. This flow pattern is commonly observed in the heart and vascular system, particularly during the contraction and relaxation phases of the heart, where blood flows in a pulsatile manner between the ventricles and arteries.

Under pulsatile flow conditions, the flow velocity and pressure of the fluid experience significant changes.

For example, when the heart contracts (ventricular contraction), blood is forcefully pumped into the large arteries, increasing the flow rate; conversely, during heart relaxation, the blood flow rate decreases.

This flow pattern not only affects the efficiency of blood delivery but also has important implications for the health and function of blood vessels.

Pulsatile flow Characteristics

Periodic Variation: Flow velocity and pressure change over time cyclically.

Pressure Waves: Rapid contraction of the heart generates pressure waves in the arteries, creating shock waves.

Non-Newtonian Properties of Blood: Blood is a fluid with complex flow characteristics, and its flow behavior may be influenced by factors such as flow velocity and shear rate.

In the fields of biomedical science and engineering, understanding pulsatile flow is crucial for studying hemodynamics, designing cardiovascular devices (such as artificial heart valves and blood vessels), and assessing cardiovascular health.

Artificial Heart Valve Durability Testing

Artificial heart valves are critical medical devices used to replace damaged or diseased natural heart valves, and their durability is essential for patient safety and long-term success. Durability testing evaluates the mechanical performance and lifespan of these valves under simulated physiological conditions. The main objective is to ensure that the valves can withstand the repetitive stresses and strains they will encounter in the body over time.

Key Aspects of Durability Testing for Artificial Heart Valves

Mechanical Cycling Tests: This involves subjecting the heart valve to repeated opening and closing cycles to simulate the natural heartbeat. The testing can range from thousands to millions of cycles, depending on the expected lifespan of the valve.

Hydraulic Performance: Assessing the flow characteristics and pressure gradients across the valve during operation is critical. This ensures that the valve opens and closes efficiently without causing significant turbulence or obstruction to blood flow.

Fatigue Testing: This tests the valve materials to determine how they perform under continuous load over time. It assesses their resistance to fatigue failure, which can occur due to the cyclic nature of blood flow.

Environmental Simulation: The test conditions often include temperature and pH levels that mimic the human body, as well as exposure to blood components to evaluate how the valves interact with biological materials over time.

Wear and Tear Analysis: Long-term studies observe the wear on valve surfaces and components to identify any potential degradation that may impact performance and patient safety

TH series Ultrasonic Flow Sensor

Blood Flow Rate Through the Heart Valves

The blood flow rate through heart valves is a dynamic measurement that varies with the heart's activity, particularly during the cardiac cycle, which consists of diastole (when the heart relaxes) and systole (when the heart contracts).

In a healthy adult heart at rest, the total blood flow rate through the heart averages around 5 to 6 liters per minute.

During periods of increased activity or exercise, this rate can increase significantly, sometimes exceeding 20 liters per minute due to the body’s increased demand for oxygen.

Each valve is designed to handle this volume of blood efficiently, ensuring that the flow remains constant and unimpeded as it cycles through the heart and into the circulatory system. Understanding the functionality and flow characteristics of heart valves is vital in assessing cardiovascular health and addressing conditions like valvular heart diseases.

The TH series high-speed in-line ultrasonic flow sensors/flow meters are designed specifically for heart valve and hemodynamics testing devices.

XY-TEK Lab Set Up

With an accuracy of ±2% and very high sampling frequencies, they can effectively capture the pulsation characteristics of high-velocity liquids within the test flow path.

They can be easily integrated into existing fluid systems via the barb connectors, and provide flow data to judge leakage conditions when the heart valves are fully closed, enabling researchers to gather critical data that enhances the efficiency of artificial heart valve/ heart pump development, production, and testing.

Youtube video at :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVJF2SBDfRQ&list=LL

Applications

1.Medical device testing systems: such as artificial heart valves, and hemodynamic testing

2. Scientific laboratory systems

About XY-TEK

XY-TEK ultrasonic flow sensors have been widely used in the research and production of various medical devices, including heart valves, ventricular assist devices, heart-lung machines, ECMO, cardiac hemodynamics simulation devices, bio-fluid dynamic research, and pulsatile flow testing of artificial heart valves.

Currently, XY-TEK has successfully collaborated with a lot of well-known medical device manufacturers, research labs, and medical centers

If you are interested in our sensors or need any information, please contact us at global@xy-tek.cn

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