Quantitative assessment of steady and pulsatile flow fields in a parallel plate flow chamber

Steady and pulsatile flows were imaged and quantified in a parallel plate f low chamber that was designed to allow constant variation of the volumetric flow rare and to minimize pressure gradients across the width of the flow field. Results indicated that both the steady and pulsatile flow fields wer e uniform across the width of the how chamber as shown by linear regression analysis. Further, the dynamic effects of the fluid pulse were transmitted almost instantaneously across the length of the flow field. These findings verify that parallel plate devices designed in this manner are suitable fo r delivering uniform steady and pulsatile shear stress to adherent cell pop ulations in vitro. (C) 1999 Biomedical Engineering Society. [S0090-6964(99) 00103-4].