A Study of the Mechanism of Pressure Wave Distortion by Arterial Walls Using an Electrical Analog

Abstract

The large arteries may be expected to respond to a central pulse wave as a resonant system and the pressure pulse can be resolved into a series of pure sinusoidal waves. Therefore, a frequency filter network was designed which could duplicate the resonant frequency and damping coefficient of a segment of artery by proper adjustment of the circuit constants. Data are presented which support the concept that much of the distortion of a pressure wave in its transmission down an artery can be explained in terms of a resonant frequency and damping coefficient, and that these variables in turn arc dependent upon physical properties of the segment of artery transmitting the wave.