Abstract
Objective To verify the scientific basis of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) pulse diagnosis principle "assessing blood by pulse" from the perspectives of fluid mechanics and hemorheology, and to quantitatively demonstrate the physical mechanism by which blood components influence radial artery pulse waveform morphology through alterations in blood viscosity.
Methods Based on the Navier-Stokes equations and the Windkessel lumped-parameter model, a pulse wave propagation simulation model for a 3-cm segment of the radial artery was constructed. The model established a complete physical causal chain of "blood components (hematocrit Hct, glucose Glu, fibrinogen Fib, lipid Lipid) → blood viscosity η → pulse waveform morphology," incorporating an augmentation index (AIx)-driven reflected wave superposition mechanism. The Pulse Wave Database (PWDB) from King's College London, containing 4,374 virtual subjects, was used as a reference benchmark for model validation, and sensitivity analysis was performed on core parameters.
ResultsMorphological comparison between simulated waveforms and PWDB-measured signals within a window of 3 cardiac cycles demonstrated good consistency in systolic upstroke slope, peak position, and diastolic decay trend (morphological profiles basically consistent across three cardiac cycles). Sensitivity analysis revealed that elastic modulus E was the most sensitive parameter affecting pulse wave peak amplitude, with changes exceeding 150% relative variation; blood viscosity η dominated distal waveform attenuation through the attenuation coefficient; the AIx-driven reflected wave superposition mechanism effectively produced the dicrotic notch.
ConclusionBlood components influence pulse wave amplitude, attenuation, and waveform morphology by altering blood viscosity. This physical causal chain constitutes the fluid mechanical foundation of the pulse diagnosis principle "assessing blood by pulse." This study provides a quantifiable and verifiable physical-mathematical framework for the objectification of TCM pulse diagnosis.
关键词
中医脉诊/血液流变学/脉搏波/流体力学/Windkessel模型/PWDB数据库
Key words
Traditional Chinese medicine pulse diagnosis/ hemorheology/ pulse wave/ fluid mechanics/ Windkessel model/ PWDB database
