Assessment of the flow velocity of blood cells in a microfluidic device using joint spectral and time domain optical coherence tomography

Abstract

Although Doppler optical coherence tomography techniques have enabled the imaging of blood flow in mid-sized vessels in biological tissues, the generation of velocity maps of capillary networks remains a challenge. To better understand the origin and information content of the Doppler signal from small vessels and limitations of such measurements, we used joint spectral and time domain optical coherence tomography to monitor the flow in a model, semitransparent microchannel device. The results obtained for Intralipid, whole blood, as well as separated red blood cells indicate that the technique is suitable to record velocity profiles in vitro, in a range of microchannel configurations.

Whole blood spontaneous capillary flow in narrow V-groove microchannels

“…This regime is described in the literature: the aggregation of red blood cells in stacks is dispersed by the hydrodynamic forces [25]. This observation agrees with the recent visualizations of blood flow by Bukowska and colleagues showing parabolic velocity profiles in closed channels [26].…”

Quantification of cell-free layer thickness and cell distribution of blood by optical coherence tomography

“…Potential applications in blood monitoring also include measuring hemoglobin 7 and glucose 8 concentrations. The microflows have been extensively studied in complex vessels by Doppler OCT. [9][10][11][12][13] The spatial distribution of RBCs in microchannels has been previously evaluated with OCT. 14,15 Due to an insufficient axial resolution of the used OCT systems, the thickness of a CFL has not been measured previously.…”

Cell Damage Index as Computational Indicator for Blood Cell Activation and Damage

“…Model parameters for the red blood cells are listed in Table . The fluid is flowing from the top inlet to the outlet on the right with a mean velocity of 0.02 m/s [typical value taken from biological experiments ]. With a Reynolds number of 0.23, the flow is strictly laminar.…”