Hemolysis Prediction by using a Power-Law Mathematical Model in an Aortic Arterial Section

This paper describes the development of a method to calculate mechanical hemolysis experimented by red blood cells (RBCs) in the aortic arterial section. A model to obtain the rheological behavior of the blood in the aortic section is developed using COMSOL Multiphysics® and the RBCs trajectories are calculated using the Particle Tracing Module of COMSOL. The Blood model used is based on previous related works. The shear stress supported by the RBCs along the particle trajectories is used to calculate the hemolysis estimation using Matlab®. For this, a power-law mathematical model is used to formulate an evaluation of the functional relationship between the shear stress and the hemolysis index. This formulation considers the effect of mechanical loading history experimented by the RBCs along his trajectories. A study of four RBCs is presented and here is included the results of trajectories, velocity profiles, shear stress and hemolysis index. From the results is observed that small shear stress values do not produce significant RBC damage, however if these values increases, the damage rises faster.