Blood flow & measurement

BLOOD FLOW measurement is one of the important physiological phenomenon. The rate at which the blood flows through blood vessels within our body can be measured using BLOOD FLOW METER.

Measuring blood flow accurately is one of the difficult task Because this accompanies meeting stringent technical as well as clinical specifications

The instruments used to measure the flow through the blood vessels need to meet the following specifications. Sensitivity and stability which depends upon the magnitude of blood flow .

. Along with this because of the various blood cells involved ,the diameter and the location of the individual cell varies. Also the velocity of the blood vessel varies. The measuring system must meet specific clinical requirement of being least traumatic. Variety of techniques have been developed to meet requirements of IDEAL BLOOD FLOW METERING SYSTEM.

TECHNIQUES FOR MEASURING BLOOD FLOW.

There are two techniques 1 .Invasive or surgical 2.Non-invasive (through the skin) In this topic we are going to deal with the non-invasive blood flow measurement we will be using the electromagnetic type blood flowmeter.

ELECTRO MAGNETIC BLOOD FLOW METER

ELECTROMAGNETIC BLOOD FLOW METER

Common type of blood flow meter Flow can be measured in intact blood vessels without cannulation. Cannulation is nothing but passing a cannule into the blood vessel to measure the flow. This method required the blood vessel to be exposed in order to use the measuring probe or flow head across it.

The early models of electro magnetic blood flow meters employed permanent magnets which electromagnets powered at main frequencies. However, baseline drifts and poor signal to noise ratio was resulted due to tremendous interference from main voltage to the transducer electrodes Various types of waveforms at different frequencies have since been tried to overcome these difficulties. Modern meters have magnetic coils working on sine, square or trapezium current waveforms.

PRINCIPLE INVOLVED IN :~ ELECTROMAGNETIC BLOOD FLOW MEASUREMENT

FARADAY S LAW OF EMI

The basic principle used in the type of blood flow meters is Faradays law of electromagnetic induction when a conductor is moved at right angles through a magnetic field in the direction at right angles both to the magnetic fields and its length, an emf is induced in the conductor.

Similarly in an electro magnetic flow meter, the Magnetic field placed right angles to the blood vessels ,the blood stream acts as a conductor cuts the magnetic field and voltage is induced in it which is picked up by the two electrodes in the assembly .

Thus, from faradays law.. The magnitude of voltage picked up,, e =C H V d Where , e=induced voltage, H=strength of magnetic field V=velocity of the blood flow d=diameter of the blood vessel C=constant of proportionality
.

As magnetic field and diameter of the blood vessel .are constant ,

e=C1 V 1

.Where C1=CHd ,constant-C1 Flow rate, Q=VA =>,V=Q/A A=area of cross-section of tube

 e=C1(Q/A)
=C2 ( Q) Here C2 = C1/A The above equation for the emf shows the induced voltage is directly proportional to the flow rate through the blood vessel

The induced voltage picked up by the electrodes is amplified and displayed on a suitable system The system is calibrated in terms of volume flow as a function of induced voltage The voltage induced will be propotional to blood flow volume only if there exist conditions that make the axial symmetry and blood velocity independent of the velocity profile,

DESIGN OF THE FLOW METER

1.TRANSDUCER TUBE of `The electro magnetic flow meter should be made of a tube of non magnetic material,this ensures that the magnetic flux doesnt bypass the flowing liquid (blood) and go into the walls of the tube. The tube is made up of conducting material and there is an insulating lining to prevent short circuiting of induced emf. The emf as discussed earlier is picked up by two electrodes when magnetic field is applied to blood vessel by point electrodes this is made of stainless steel or platinum.

The traducers are usually equipped with an internal ground electrode so that no external grounding is necessary. The cable from the transducer to the instrument comprise of a Teflon insulated wire completely shielded with a tinned copper braid. The entire cable is covered with medical grade silver rubber tubing and impregnated with silicone rubber to minimize leakage and electrical noise The transducers should be tested for 1000 mega ohms minimum resistance between the coil and electrodes ,after prolonged immersion in saline.

The difference between the impedances of pick up electrodes of a transducer is called the common rejecting ratio. this is maximum only when the electrode impedances are identical. For the variations between the impedances of a pair of transducer electrodes ,not to affect the common mode rejection ,the common mode impedance of the measuring circuit should be at least 100 m ohm Electrode impedances in saline generally lie b/n 1 to 10 k ohm. In case of Platinized platinum and dull gold it is 1.5 to 2 k ohm.

FLOW HEADS: The probes have an open slot on one side which makes it possible to slip it over a blood vessel without cutting the vessel .

This is done mainly during diastole to make a snug fit.

probe hold the blood vessels diameter of the blood vessel constant. Constructing a flow head suitable for the use with very small blood vessels is often difficult.

DESIGNING THE PROBE: . The velocity of cardiovascular system is taken to be 15 cm/s. Electromagnets used for designing a probe depends upon its diameter, Iron cored electromagnets are used in probes with diameter b/n 1 to 8.2mm And air cooled electromagnets for above 8.2mm diameter. Probe is calibrated in 0.9% saline during manufacture. Each probe is calibrated with a factor tats engraved on connector, this sets multi turn potentiometer to adjust amplification to give full scale output on display meter

Types of flow heads

Specifications for recording reliable flow:

The vessel is required to maintain good contact with the probe . Encapsulating it in a biologically inert material having high electrical and chemical resistance prevents it from chemical attack. e.g.: silicone rubber Probes are sterilized by chemical means

Probe specifications:
Average flow velocity: Cannulated probe: In arteries:20 to 25 cm/s In veins:10 to 12 cm/s For the probes to be used in variety of sizes of arteries ,,they are made in 1mm increments in the range of 1 to 24 mm.

Advantages: : A major advantage is that it can measure instantaneous blood flow, not just average flow
DRAW BACKS: Generally, probes do not operate satisfactorily on veins, as electrodes fail to make a make good contact when vein collapses.

. Advances:
Attempts have been made to miniaturize the flow head to an extent that it can be mounted on the top of a catheter. Such devices are needed in experimental as well as in clinical cardiology for mapping the velocity conditions of the entire circulatory system.