Author(s)

D. De Wachter, R. Verhoeven & P. Verdonck

Abstract

Hemolysis has gained a growing interest in chronic hemodialysis therapies, as it is responsible for patient's discomfort and several long term complications. Shear induced hemolysis is studied in a 14G axisymmetrical catheter needle model with finite element techniques, using physiological boundary conditions. High shear spots and flow separation zones are studied to identify the sources of hemolysis. The most sensitive area lies around the needle tip. 1 Introduction The study of shear in hemodialysis needles originates from the fact that ill-performant needles can cause large levels of hemolysis to occur in dialysis patients. Since patients on chronic hemodialysis therapy commonly suffer from a certain degree of anemia, augmented blood cell destruction has a more profou

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