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Contributions of a Finite Element Model for the Geometric Optimization of an Implantable Bioartificial Pancreas
Author(s) -
Dulong JeanLuc,
Legallais Cécile
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
artificial organs
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.684
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1525-1594
pISSN - 0160-564X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1525-1594.2002.07080.x
Subject(s) - islet , finite element method , artificial pancreas , materials science , fiber , biomedical engineering , oxygen , diabetes mellitus , chemistry , composite material , medicine , structural engineering , engineering , type 1 diabetes , endocrinology , organic chemistry
The extravascular implantation of islets of Langerhans immunoprotected within a permselective membrane is a promising method to treat diabetes mellitus. However, oxygen limitation due to purely diffusive solute transport was considered to provoke tissue necrosis and graft failure. We built a solute transport model based on a finite element method aiming at optimizing the hollow fiber geometry. With a low islet density, the influence of oxygen axial flux inside the fiber was underlined and a characteristic length for oxygen supply was introduced. This study allowed the conclusion that islet density must be adapted to the fiber diameter chosen for implantation.