The Physics of Pulsatile Flow [Paperback]

A presentation of the most elementary form of pulsatile flow as an important prerequisite for the study of other flow applications in biological systems. The book provides in a single source a complete treatment of the fluid dynamics of flow with the required mathematics and emphasis on the basis mechanics. The style and level of this book make it accessible to students and researchers in biophysics, biology, medicine, bioengineering and applied mathematics working in theoretical and clinical work on the cardiovascular system, as well as in the design of new instrumentation, medical imaging systems, and artificial organs. With problems and exercises.Classic texts in the field of analysis of flow in blood vessels have been written over the years and what these say is still valid today. However, our knowledge of pathophysiological mechanisms has changed with increasing rapidity over the past 20 years, as has our ability to visualize the three? dimensional geometry of blood flow and blood flow velocity distribution within the in vivo blood vessels. Consequently, with the increased need to fully exploit the new imaging capabilities and our additional biological knowledge, this book is a welcome addition to our armamentarium used to achieve those new goals. the past pulsatile flow (and consequent wave reflections) was Whereas in often seen as frosting on the cake of analysis of blood flow problems or perhaps as an issue that should be understood only in a general sense, our new capabilities and understanding require more accurate analyses of spe? cific systems, not just of constructs based on statistical data describing a vascular tree. Examples of this new need include the situation where the detailed branching geometry of an arterial tree is known from imaging and it is desired to see to what extent local fluid dynamic characteristics can explain the specific localization of disease such as atherosclerosis, or of the extent to which the heterogeneity of perfusion thrlÓ4