RTD analysis of a novel Taylor-Couette flow device for blood detoxification

Heparin is an anticoagulant used in extracorporeal procedures such as hemod ialysis and open heart surgery. Unfortunately: heparin may induce potential ly fatal complications in patients at high risk of bleeding. The use of art immobilized heparinase I reactor makes heparin therapy safer; but the desi gn of a safe and efficient reactor for medical use had been a significant p roblem. A novel reactor, based on simultaneous separation-reaction and Tayl or-Couette flow, was designed and successfully tested in vitro with human b lood and ex vivo in sleep. The objective of this study was to understand th e flow dynamics in the reactor in order to predict and optimize heparin neu tralization. Residence-time distribution studies were performed and a mathe matical model was developed The model was able to predict experimental conv ersions within a mean relative error of 5.5%. Bypass flow through the react ive section was also predicted.