A modified elastance model to control mock ventricles in real-time: numerical and experimental validation.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Cardiovascular Physiology
• Medical Device Development

Background:

• Accurate simulation of ventricular function is crucial for cardiovascular research and device testing.
• Existing models often struggle with pressure disturbances, impacting reliability.
• Understanding ventricle-vascular interaction is key to developing effective cardiovascular prostheses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a real-time controlled mock ventricle capable of reproducing the natural ventricle's pressure-volume relationship.
• To enhance existing elastance models with resistive and inductive terms for improved accuracy.
• To create a reliable platform for designing and testing cardiovascular prostheses.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a valved piston pump to mimic the left ventricle.
• Implemented a modified mathematical model incorporating resistive and inductive terms into the Suga-Sagawa elastance model.
• Employed real-time feedback control using measured pump pressure to drive the piston and simulate cardiac cycle dynamics.

Main Results:

• The modified model effectively filtered pressure oscillations, unlike the classical model, which was sensitive to disturbances.
• The real-time controlled mock ventricle accurately reproduced the ventricle-vascular system interaction.
• The model demonstrated sensitivity to preload and afterload, mimicking the Starling law.

Conclusions:

• The developed mock ventricle provides a robust platform for real-time simulation of cardiac function.
• Its ability to accurately replicate ventricle-vascular interactions and the Starling mechanism makes it ideal for cardiovascular research.
• This technology facilitates the design and testing of novel cardiovascular prostheses.