The intraaortic balloon pump: a nonlinear digital computer model

A computer based model for in-series cardiac assistance by intraaortic balloon pumping was developed in this study. The model, obtained from the Navier-Stokes and Continuity equations, was capable of computing pressures, volumetric flow rates and radii through the arterial system. The model was used to study the effects of a wide range of assist device timing adjustments on the benefits of ventricular assistance under conditions corresponding to those measured during animal experiments. The model was also used to study the relationship between device timing adjustments and the benefits of ventricular assistance under constant cardiovascular state conditions. Such studies are important in isolating the response of the system to assist device phasing from the response associated with system state. The results obtained in this study demonstrate that the hemodynamic response of the cardiovascular system to intraaortic balloon pumping is a sensitive function of both the state of the cardiovascular system and phasing of the assist device.