Hematocrit reduction in bifurcations due to plasma skimming.

Abstract

Expressions and numerical values for hematocrit reduction are calculated as blood flows from a cylindrical feeding tube into a cylindrical capillary at a right-angle branch. Blood is considered to consist of two Newtonian fluids, plasma and red cell suspension, which have equal densities but different viscosities. The concentration profile of the red cells is concluded to depend on the size of the feeding tube. An estimate for the thickness of the plasma layer adjacent to the wall is obtained.