Mock Circulatory Loop Compliance Chamber Employing a Novel Real-Time Control Process

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Cardiovascular Physiology Simulation

Background:

• Mock circulatory loops are essential for testing cardiac assist technologies.
• Accurate simulation of arterial compliance is critical for physiological relevance.
• Current methods often require flow interruption for compliance adjustments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel compliance chamber for mock circulatory loops.
• To enable real-time, dynamic adjustment of arterial compliance.
• To facilitate continuous testing of cardiac assist devices under varying physiological conditions.

Main Methods:

• A compliance chamber design utilizing a natural latex rubber membrane and airspace pressure regulation.
• Integration of pressure and displacement sensors for real-time feedback.
• Development of a control algorithm using a proportional integral (PI) controller tuned via computational modeling (Simulink™ Simscape®).
• Utilized Parameter Estimation™ and Design Optimization™ tools for system parameter identification and controller tuning.

Main Results:

• The developed control architecture successfully maintained system compliance along a pressure-volume curve.
• The system demonstrated the ability to adjust compliance set points in real-time without interrupting pulsatile flow.
• Accurate simulation of dynamic changes in arterial compliance was achieved.

Conclusions:

• The novel compliance chamber effectively simulates dynamic arterial compliance in mock circulatory loops.
• This technology enhances the capability for continuous and physiologically relevant bench testing of cardiac assist devices.
• The real-time adjustability streamlines device evaluation and research.