Pumping in Lymphatic Vessels with Standing and Traveling Waves

The lymphatic system plays a crucial role in maintaining tissue homeostasis and immune function. The transport of lymph is provided by periodical contractions of the lymphatic vessel fitted with one-way valves. Understanding the impact of the contraction pattern on the pumping efficiency and flow rate is essential for optimizing lymphatic function and therapeutic interventions. This study employs computer simulations and physical experiments to investigate the pumping performance relationship of lymphatic vessels that undergo contractions in the form of standing and traveling waves. In the simulations, we use a fully coupled fluid-structure interaction computational model based on the lattice Boltzmann method. In the experiments, we use a macroscopic polymer lymphatic vessel mimetic that is contracted by mechanical actuators. The comparison reveals the impact of the lymphatic vessel contraction pattern on the pumping flow rate and efficiency.