Fabrication of elastomer arterial models with specified compliance

A simple way of making elastic tubes using a mechanical lathe for precise c ontrol of the wall thickness is proposed in this study. These tubes are par ticularly useful for modeling properties of large arteries. Tubes with diff erent geometric parameters and hence different elastic behavior have been m ade with a silicon elastomer (Rhodorsil RTV 1556). They have been created t o be used for compliance measurements in hemodynamics research. Within a li mited range of pressures, depending on the wall thickness, such tubes can b e used to study models in which the compliance value is assumed to be const ant.