Flow velocity maps measured by nuclear magnetic resonance in medical intravenous catheter needleless connectors

• Published in: Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis 2018-04, Vol.152, p.1-11
• Main Authors: Nybo, Elmira, Maneval, James E., Codd, Sarah L., Ryder, Marcia A., James, Garth A., Woodbury, Jason, Seymour, Joseph D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Catheters; Equipment and Supplies; Hydrodynamics; Magnetic resonance imaging; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy - methods; Needleless connector; Secondary flow; Velocity profile
• ISSN: 0731-7085; 1873-264X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2018.01.037

•Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) velocity maps have been measured in medical intravenous catheter needleless connectors.•MRI is a noninvasive and nondestructive method for capturing macroscale structure and transport in complex geometries.•The novel approach of using MRI for studying the hydrodynamics in complex geometries is explained.•The MRI technique yields unique information regarding the flow in these structurally complicated biomedical devices.•The data could be used to groundtruth CFD models and impact the design of NCs in order to minimize contamination by biofilms. This work explains the motivation, advantages, and novel approach of using velocity magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for studying the hydrodynamics in a complicated structural biomedical device such as an intravenous catheter needleless connector (NC). MRI was applied as a non-invasive and non-destructive technique to evaluate the fluid dynamics associated with various internal designs of the NC. Spatial velocity maps of fluid flow at specific locations within these medical devices were acquired. Dynamic MRI is demonstrated as an effective method to quantify flow patterns and fluid dynamic dependence on structural features of NCs. These spatial velocity maps could be used as a basis for groundtruthing computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods that could impact the design of NCs.