A CARDIOVASCULAR SIMULATOR WITH ELASTIC ARTERIAL TREE FOR PULSE WAVE STUDIES

Abstract

Blood pressure is an important factor in cardiovascular diseases, and it is impossible to precisely reproduce the physical phenomenon of the arteries by using conventional simulators with modeling blood vessels as air-filled chambers. The purpose of this study was to develop a cardiovascular simulator that replicates the human arterial system. The vessel part was manufactured with silicon which has similar stiffness and arterial tree structure. To evaluate the validity of the developed simulator, the pressure and flow were analyzed in the ascending aorta and radial artery. Measured pressure waves and input impedance of the ascending aorta were compared with clinical data using quantitative indices. The generated pulse by the developed simulator showed a good agreement with the physiological characteristics of the arterial system in the human body.