In order to investigate the role of gravity in a novel cancer treatment strategy called Gas Embolotherapy, we have computationally studied the evolution dynamics of two bubbles sticking to and sliding on the opposite walls of a 2D channel, under gravity-driven flow. We have modeled the moving three-phase contact lines using Tanner laws including contact angle hysteresis and have accounted for the gas-liquid interfacial dynamics in our model. Our model uses a Boundary Element Method (BEM) based moving-interface, multi-domain, iterative method to compute the flows and stresses on the domain boundaries at various instants of time. Since the normal and shear stresses acting on the endothelial layer of blood vessels are a major concern in the development of gas embolotherapy, we have examined the effect of bubble evolution and induced flows on the wall stresses. For a range of initial bubble pressures, we have studied the role of gravity by varying the Bond number and by using two different inclinations of the channel (horizontal and vertical) with respect to gravity. Our results suggest that the strength of gravitational forces and the inclination of the channel have a pronounced effect on both the bubble evolution and the resulting wall stresses. Aside from gravitational effects, the interaction of the bubbles through the surrounding fluid has a significant effect on their evolution. We have also examined the flow rates at both ends of the channel resulting from the evolution of the two bubbles.
A Boundary Element Model of Multiple Microcirculatory Bubbles in Cardiovasculature
Navish WadhwaRelated information
1 National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore 560065, India
, Vardhman JainRelated information2 iRunway India Private Limited, Hosur Road, Bangalore 560068 India
, J. Brian FowlkesRelated information3 Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2110, USA
, Joseph BullRelated information4 Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2110, USA
, Brijesh EshpuniyaniRelated information5 Department of Aerospace Engineering, IIT Kanpur, UP 208016, India
Published Online: November 17, 2010
Abstract