Leble, VladimirFernandes, Carla S.Dias, Ricardo P.Lima, Rui A.Ishikawa, TakujiImai, YohsukeYamaguchi, Takami2012-07-032012-07-032012Leble, V.; Fernandes, C.; Dias, R.; Lima, R.; Ishikawa, T.; Imai, Y.; Yamaguchi, T. (2012). Flow visualization of trace particles and red blood cells in a microchannel with a diverging and converging bifurcation. In Tavares, João Manuel R.S.; Jorge, R.M. Natal (Eds.) Computational Vision and Medical Image Processing: VipIMAGE 2011. London: CRC Press. p. 209-211. ISBN 978-0-415-68395-1978-0-415-68395-1http://hdl.handle.net/10198/7116This paper aims to investigate the effect of both diverging and converging bifurcations on the flow behaviour of pure water (PW) and red blood cells (RBCs). A confocal micro-PTV system is used to visualize and measure the flow characteristics of the working fluids. The results show no formation of a cell-free layer (CFL) around the apex of the bifurcation. In contrast, there is a clear formation of a triangular CFL just downstream of the confluence apex. As a result, this triangular CFL seems to play an important role on the in vitro blood flow characteristics at this region.engBlood flowMicrocirculationBifurcationsRBCsconference paper