Flow of a capsule through a constriction : application to cell filtration

(Received 3 August 1992, revised 5 February 1993, accepted 8 February 1993)

Abstract
The motion of a freely suspended capsule (liquid drop surrounded by a deformable membrane) forced to squeeze through an axisymmetric constriction smaller than its initial dimensions is studied by means of a numerical model based on boundary integrals. The flow is driven by a constant pressure difference. The suspending liquid and internal capsule viscosities are equal. It is found that the maximum energy loss is due to entrance effects rather than to the flow in the pore itself. The role of the membrane rigidity can be predicted.