Helically cut vascular strip preparation: geometrical considerations

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Abstract
Certain constraints associated with the use of helically cut strips obtained from the rat aorta were examined. The angle (.vphi.) at which a strip is cut from a vessel segment is intimately related to the strip width and the vessel circumference. Quantitatively, the relationship can be expressed by the equation cos .vphi. = strip width/vessel circumference. To obtain strips of equal width from vessels of different diameters, the angle (.vphi.) at which the strips are cut must differ. The stress developed by vascular strips is a function of .vphi.. Strips cut transverse to the long axis developed approximately 20 times more stress than strips cut parallel to the long axis. Strips cut at other angles developed intermediate stresses. Helically cut strips lend themselves to artifact with respect to the tension-generating capacity of vascular smooth muscle if the geometrical considerations of strip width, vessel diameter and the pitch of the helix are ignored.