Hardware-in-the-loop-simulation of the cardiovascular system, with assist device testing application.

Full Abstract

This paper presents a technique for evaluating the performance of biomedical devices by combining physical (mechanical) testing with a numerical, computerised model of a biological system. This technique is developed for evaluation of a cardiac assist device prior to in vivo trials. This device will wrap around a failing heart and provide physical beating assistance (dynamic cardiac compression). In vitro, the device to be tested is placed around a simulator comprising a mechanical simulation of the beating ventricles. This hardware model interfaces with a computerised (software) model of the cardiovascular system. In real time the software model calculates the effect of the assistance on the cardiovascular system and controls the beating motion of the hardware heart simulator appropriately. The software model of the cardiovascular system can represent ventricles in various stages of heart failure, and/or hardened or congested blood vessels as required. The software displays physiological traces showing the cardiac output, depending on the natural function of the modelled heart together with the physical assist power provided. This system was used to evaluate the effectiveness of control techniques applied to the assist device. Experimental results are presented showing the efficacy of prototype assist on healthy and weakened hearts, and the effect of asynchronous assist.

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Author information

Author/s: Hanson, B M (BM); Levesley, M C (MC); Watterson, K (K); Walker, P G (PG);

Affiliation: School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK. ben(-atsign-)benhanson.com

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Medical engineering & physics (Med Eng Phys), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Apr; vol 29 (issue 3) : pp 367-74

Dates: Created 2006/12/13; Completed 2007/04/17; Revised 2008/11/21;

PMID: 16815728, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Algorithms
Biomechanics
Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena
Computer Simulation
Heart Failure - physiopathology; therapy

Heart Failure - physiopathology; therapy
Heart-Assist Devices
Humans
Models, Cardiovascular
Software

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