Measurement of the mechanical properties of blood vessels using a vascular simulation rig

Understanding the mechanical properties of blood vessels is crucial for reconstructive surgeons who connect donor tissue flaps to recipient sites. This paper describes the development of a vascular simulation test rig that delivers pulsatile flow to a blood vessel sample while continuously monitoring system pressure and sample diameter. These measurements allow for the calculation of the viscous coefficient, an important mechanical property for comparing blood vessels. A pilot test using the rig demonstrates its ability to measure pressure and diameter and highlights necessary improvements to enhance data quality. The pilot test shows that the current rig can measure 5 mm diameter blood vessels, and with lower flow rate motor control codes, it could measure vessels as small as 2.5 mm in diameter. While the results showcase the rig's capability and potential, this study should be viewed as proof-of-concept. The derived viscous coefficient is significantly larger than expected, underscoring the need for the proposed improvements before further studies are conducted.