In-vitro study on the hemorheological characteristics of chicken blood in microcirculation

Abstract

The flow characteristics of chicken blood in a micro-tube with a 100 mu m diameter are investigated using a micro-Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) technique. Chicken blood with 40% hematocrit is supplied into the micro-tube using a syringe pump. For comparison, the same experiments are repeated for human blood with 40% hematocrit. Chicken blood flow has a cell-free layer near the tube wall, and this layer's thickness increases with the increased flow speed due to radial migration. As a hemorheological feature, the aggregation index of chicken blood is about 50% less than that of human blood. Therefore, the non-Newtonian fluid features of chicken blood are not very remarkable compared with those of human blood. As the flow rate increases, the blunt velocity profile in the central region of the micro-tube sharpens, and the parabolic-shaped shear stress distribution becomes to have a linear profile. The viscosity of both blood samples in a low shear rate condition is overestimated, while the viscosity in a high shear rate range is underestimated due to radial migration and the presence of a cell-depleted layer.