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Spatio-temporal instabilities of blood flow in a model capillary network

Mathieu Alonzo1,2, Nathaniel J. Karst3, Thomas Podgorski2,*, John B. Geddes4, and Gwennou Coupier1,†

  • *Contact author: thomas.podgorski@univ-grenoble-alpes.fr
  • †Contact author: gwennou.coupier@univ-grenoble-alpes.fr
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Phys. Rev. Fluids 9, 104401 – Published 22 October, 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevFluids.9.104401

Abstract

We present experimental evidence of multiple blood flow configurations in a relatively simple microfluidic network under constant inlet conditions. We provide evidence of multistability and unsteady dynamics and find good agreement with a theoretical one-dimensional advection model for blood flow in microvascular networks that relies on the widely used laws for rheology and phase separation. We discuss the ramifications for microfluidic experiments and measurements using blood and implications for in vivo microcirculation. Our findings suggest that further modeling in microvascular networks should discard the usual assumption of unique, steady-state flow solutions, with crucial consequences regarding gas, nutrient, and waste transport.

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Outline

Information

Phys. Rev. Fluids 9, 104401– Published 22 October, 2024
  • Received 11 April 2024
  • Accepted 2 October 2024
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