Transport phenomena in laminar flow of blood

Abstract

It was shown experimentally that transport of heat and gas (specifically O2 and He) are augmented in the laminar flow of aqueous suspensions of polystyrene spheres 50 and 150 .mu.m in diameter. Data on heat and gas transport are correlated and applied to flowing blood. There is no significant augmentation of O2 and heat transport in flowing blood even at shear rates much higher than physiological shear rates, an observation which is in accord with the experimental results. The augmentation of the diffusion coefficient of plasma proteins in flowing blood, though not very high, appears to be measurable. Of the total measured augmentation of about 6000-30,000% in platelet diffusivity in flowing blood, about 500% is attributable from this correlation to fluid mechanical forces, and the balance is hypothetically attributed to other forces (electrical or biochemical) present in blood. An understanding of the enhanced diffusion of platelets in blood may elucidate the formation of blood clots and thrombi.