Spiral flow testing

摘要

A tube 11 with an internal spiral flow-inducing formation is mounted within a flow system. The flow system has upstream 12 and downstream 13 tubing that deliver fluid to and from the tube 11. Transverse flow velocity is measured downstream by observing tomographic slices within a length 'L'. The tube 11 is characterised by computing a transverse flow signature from the measured velocity. The fluid may be blood or a suitable substitute with comparable density, viscosity, and acoustic refractive index. The flow velocity may be measured by Doppler ultrasound. A stenosis (figure 3) may be inserted downstream of the tube to determine the effect it has on the spiral flow induced by the tube. The effect is determined by introducing pressure sensing locations 14 into the upstream and downstream tubing.