Hardware in the Loop Implementation of the Oscillator-based Heart Model: A Framework for Testing Medical Devices

Abstract

The hardware in the loop technologies allow to simulate physical models in combination with real devices in order to validate the behavior of the latter under different conditions, not easily reproducible in the real world. They are widely used in various industrial applications. In this work we want to extend the methodology to medical devices. These must interact with the patient to obtain the desired clinical result, however, during the development and validation phase of medical devices, the patient cannot be involved in the testing process. In this article the hardware in the loop methodology is proposed starting from a mathematical model of the heart, based on oscillators, that can be used to validate pacemakers or other medical devices.