Physical Aspects in Peripheral Perfusion

Abstract

Each living structure originating from an evolution process has a specific mechanism to control the limits of its cell population. One of the most important mechanisms for this control is tissue perfusion. Regulation of perfusion is a way of influencing the quantity of tissue formation. There are lesions which have increased perfusion, leading to hypertrophy and disorder of the structure. The efficiency of blood distribution to the perfusion areas is determined by the timing and synchronization of the blood-pressure pulse and the blood flow. Tissue perfusion, arterial bood transport and respiration are all processes in which the timing, synchronization and the phase shift between the pressure pulse and the flow wave is a very important phenomenon. Nearly all lesions and structural disorders alter the properties of this timing, leading to disturbed perfusion. When partial perfusion in a tissue area is too great it forms a shunt over the surrounding healthy tissue. Absolute diffusion to the cells is dependent on the pressure gradients and duration. Manipulating these timing and pressure differentials is a method of reducing the shunts and improves the efficiency of blood transport. It is obvious that reducing perfusion in tumours will reduce tumour growth; several technique are being developed for this, such as radiation and chemical therapies. But the selectivity of these therapies is still so bad that resection of the affected areas is often inevitable. The pneumatic controlled circulation (PCC) method we have developed is very efficient and selective.