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Experimental flow field characterization is a critical component of the assessment of the hemolytic and thrombogenic potential of heart valve substitutes, thus it is important to identify best practices for these experimental techniques. This paper presents a brief review of commonly used flow assessment techniques such as Particle image velocimetry (PIV), Laser doppler velocimetry, and Phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging and a comparison of these methodologies. In particular, recommendations for setting up planar PIV experiments such as recommended imaging instrumentation, acquisition and data processing are discussed in the context of heart valve flows. Multiple metrics such as residence time, local velocity and shear stress that have been identified in the literature as being relevant to hemolysis and thrombosis in heart valves are discussed. Additionally, a framework for uncertainty analysis and data reporting for PIV studies of heart valves is presented in this paper. It is anticipated that this paper will provide useful information for heart valve device manufacturers and researchers to assess heart valve flow fields for the potential for hemolysis and thrombosis.

Methods involving microfluidics have been used in several chemical, biological and medical applications. In particular, a network of bifurcating microchannels can be used to distribute flow in a large space. In this work, we carried out experiments to determine hydrodynamic characteristics of bifurcating microfluidic networks. We measured pressure drop across bifurcating networks of various complexities for various flow rates. We also measured planar velocity fields in these networks by using particle image velocimetry. We further analyzed hydrodynamics in these networks using mathematical and computational modeling. Our results show that the experimental frictional resistances of complex bifurcating microchannels are about 30% greater than that predicted by Navier-Stokes' equations. Experimentally measured velocity profiles indicate that flow distributes equally at a bifurcation regardless of the complexity of the network. Flow division other than bifurcation such as trifurcation or quadruplication can lead to heterogeneities. These findings were verified by the results from the numerical simulations.

The velocities of the slurry particles in the impeller of a centrifugal slurry pump were obtained utilizing Particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique in conjunction with refractive index matching. Tests were performed in an optically clear centrifugal slurry pump at speeds of 725 rpm and 1000 rpm using a slurry made up of sodium iodide solution as a working fluid and glass beads (500μm mean diameter) as solid particles at volumetric concentrations of 1%, 2%, and 3%. In the intra blade region of the impeller, the highest particle velocities were obtained in the suction side of the blade and in the blade trailing edge region as the blade sweeps through and velocity magnitude increases with the increase in the pump speed. But this magnitude was less than that of circumferential velocity of the blade tip. The average particle velocities were obtained and it was found that the average particle velocity decreases with increase in concentration. The fluctuating component of particle velocity, which is related to the fluctuation kinetic energy were obtained. With the increase in the particle volumetric concentration, fluctuation kinetic energy decreases and the maximum fluctuation kinetic energy typically occurs on the suction side of the blade. The slurry particles are pushed on the pressure side of the blade and slide on it which can result in frictional wear. These results are discussed in this paper.

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