COUPLED OXYGEN TRANSPORT IN THE AVASCULAR REGION OF A CORONARY ARTERY FOR BASAL TO HYPEREMIC FLOW

摘要

The numerical investigation of coupled oxygen transport to the avascular region of the wall of coronary artery is carried out for varying wall thickness and flow rates from basal to hyperemic condition. The factors affecting the O_2 transport, such as, consumption of oxygen in the avascular wall region, w, the avascular thickness, δ, supply of O_2 from vasa vasorum, nonlinear O_2 binding capacity of the hemoglobin and varying flow rates, are taken into account. The O_2 concentration boundary layer, δ_b, is observed to be of ～80 μm thickness. The lowest medial partial pressure, Po_(2,min), decreases by ～80% for a larger avascular thickness, δ, of 300 μm when compared with that for smaller δ of 200 μm.