Document Type : Full Research Paper
Authors
1 PhD Candidate of Biomechanics, Biomedical Engineering School, Amirkabir University of Technology
2 Assistant Professor, Biological Fluid Mechanics Research Laboratory, Department of Biomechanics, Biomedical Engineering School, Amirkabir University of Technology
3 MSc Student, Department of Biomechanics, Biomedical Engineering School, Amirkabir University of Technology
Abstract
Ureter reflux is one of the prevalent factors that causes pyelonefrit and sistit syndromes. Dilatation of ureter, renal pelves and calyx are detectable with reflux. In this paper, in order to analyze this phenomenon, an axisymmetric model was introduced. We utilized a rigid body, which is in contact with the outer ureter wall to model ureter contraction. The Navier-Stokes equations are solved for the fluid and a linear elastic model is used for ureter wall structure. The finite element equations for both the structure and the fluid were solved by the Newton-Raphson iterative method. The effect of ureter wall elasticity, pressure difference between the ureter inlet and outlet and the effect of the average velocity of peristaltic wave along the length of the ureter on the ureter outlet flow rate were analyzed. Moreover, the effect of the number of contraction waves on the pressure and flow relations in the ureter was analyzed. Increase in the number of contraction waves reduced the flow passing through the ureter. The results of investigating about the contraction wave velocity variations indicated that if average velocity the contraction wave was lower than a limited magnitude, its existence did not have any considerable effect on the ureter outlet flow rate. Finally improper function of urinary tubes junctions results in the passage of a part of back flow even in the case of low velocity beginning of the contraction wave.
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