Abstract
Thrombus formations in medical devices are unsolved issue. If a reliable in vitro real-time visualization method is established, it will contribute the development and improvement of anti-thrombogenic medical devices. The aim of this study is to develop a real-time thrombus visualization system with an optical coherence tomography (OCT) and to reveal an influence of local blood flow on thrombus growth. We focus on the inlet and outlet part of connecters. The circuit was consisted of a roller pump, a reservoir, and resistance. The circuit volume was 50 ml. The blood flow rate and pressure were regulated to 100 ml/min and 70 mmHg. To visualize cross-sectional imaging of thrombus, we used a SS-OCT system with center wave-length of 1330 nm. OCT images were obtained every 10 minutes for 50 minutes. Test were performed 6 times. A fresh porcine whole blood with activated clotting time of approximately 200 sec was circulated. Thrombus-formed area increased with time at the outlet part of the connecter, however, the thrombus-formed area didn't increase at the inlet part. The part where thrombus-formed are increased was related to a flow-separation area. Flow-separation would be a cause to form such an increasingly thrombus. We revealed that the local blood flow is important not only for thrombus formation but also stability of thrombus-formed at the connecter.
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