In vitro study of a physiological type flow in a bifurcated vascular prosthesis.

Using a cardiovascular simulator allowing the production of physiological conditions, velocity field and pressure-diameter relationship were determined in a bifurcated arterial graft for two geometric configurations of implantation. Velocity measurements give the surgeon attractive and useful information for finding out the best way to implant the graft. The study of the pressure-diameter relationship showed a particular behaviour of the graft; the wall motion of the graft, compared with the pressure wave, being different both in the mother branch at the upstream anastomosis and in the daughter branch.