Using Rheological Modeling and Mechanical Property Analysis to Interrogate, Characterize, and Develop Metrics for Human Blood

Abstract

Recent advances in thixo-elasto-visco-plastic (TEVP) rheological modeling are combined with the Series of Physical Processes (SPP) transient elastic and viscous property analysis framework to allow for a more complete understanding, and mechanical visualization of normal, healthy human blood. To this end, the enhanced thixotropic mHAWB (ethixo-mHAWB) TEVP model in conjunction with SPP was incorporated to describe the average rheological and mechanical properties of human blood. The aggregated rheological, “ best-fit ” model parameter values, and aggregated mechanical contour maps were then compared to the following pathologies: high cholesterol, high hematocrit; and with blood that remained ex vivo for 24 hours. This is accomplished with 21 sets of steady state of which, 16 sets, that also have transient human blood rheological data from the ARES G2, strain-controlled rheometer. Blood collected from healthy individuals not reporting abnormalities is characterized, parametrically with calculation of the 95% confidence interval using the TEVP model parameters. A goal of this analysis is to determine the relationship between different rheological and physiological parameters and then correlate the rheological parameters and signatures. This is done with articulation of mechanical properties via metrics of the SPP framework using a contour map construction with normal human blood (from a mechanical and physiological perspective) as a basis for comparison.

Keywords: Unidirectional Large Amplitude Oscillatory Shear, Rouleaux, Viscosity, Stress rate