Developing Computational Fluid-Structure Interaction Models of the Lymphatic Valve

The lymphatic system is an essential vascular network vital to proper physiologic function and is responsible for the transport of lymphatic fluid from most tissues to the venous return. At the mesenteric level, bi-leaflet valves encapsulated by a bulbous sinus serve to prevent retrograde flow between tubular vessel segments. Despite their importance, little detailed knowledge is available to truly understand how the leaflet deflections influence the surrounding fluid dynamics. To understand this, a computational study was performed using an idealised geometry of a rat mesenteric lymphatic valve. A fluid-structure interaction approach was used to determine the opening behaviour and resulting fluid dynamics of the lymphatic valve leaflets. Resulting velocity contours during opening revealed a peak velocity of 38 mm/s at the orifice of the valve with an increase in curvature of the leaflet.