How Do Cord Compressions Affect the Umbilical Venous Flow Resistance? An In Vitro Investigation of the Biomechanical Mechanisms.

Umbilical vessels, that provide blood oxygenation and fetal nourishment in utero, are encased and protected against external forces by the umbilical cord. The biomechanics of this peculiar structure has not been deeply investigated so far. The purpose of this study is to investigate the hydraulic behaviour of human umbilical veins (UV) and its changes in presence of an external cord compression.

Experimental setup to evaluate the performance of percutaneous pulmonary valved stent in different outflow tract morphologies.

Percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation is a potential treatment for right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) dysfunction. However, RVOT implantation site varies among subjects and the success of the procedure depends on RVOT morphology selection. The aim of this study was to use in vitro testing to establish percutaneous valve competency in different previously defined RVOT morphologies.

Engineered cartilage constructs subject to very low regimens of interstitial perfusion.

We have studied an in vitro engineered cartilage model, consisting of bovine articular chondrocytes seeded on micro-porous scaffolds and perfused with very low regimens of interstitial flow. Our previous findings suggested that synthesis of sulphated glycosaminoglycans (sGAG) was promoted in this model, if the level of shear generated on cells was maintained below 10 mPa (0.1 dyn/cm2).

The effect of hydrodynamic shear on 3D engineered chondrocyte systems subject to direct perfusion.

Bioreactors allowing direct-perfusion of culture medium through tissue-engineered constructs may overcome diffusion limitations associated with static culturing, and may provide flow-mediated mechanical stimuli. The hydrodynamic stress imposed on cells within scaffolds is directly dependent on scaffold microstructure and on bioreactor configuration. Aim of this study is to investigate optimal shear stress ranges and to quantitatively predict the levels of hydrodynamic shear imposed to cells during the experiments.

Multiscale modeling of the cardiovascular system: application to the study of pulmonary and coronary perfusions in the univentricular circulation.

The objective of this study is to compare the coronary and pulmonary blood flow dynamics resulting from two configurations of systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunts currently utilized during the Norwood procedure: the central (CS) and modified Blalock Taussig (MBTS) shunts. A lumped parameter model of the neonatal cardiovascular circulation and detailed 3-D models of the shunt based on the finite volume method were constructed. Shunt sizes of 3, 3.

Mathematical modeling of fluid dynamics in pulsatile cardiopulmonary bypass.

The design criteria of an extracorporeal circuit suitable for pulsatile flow are quite different and more entangled than for steady flow. The time and costs of the design process could be reduced if mutual influences between the pulsatile pump and other extracorporeal devices were considered without experimental trial-and-error activities. With this in mind, we have developed a new lumped-parameter mathematical model of the hydraulic behavior of the arterial side of an extracorporeal circuit under pulsatile flow conditions.