Open AccessVerification of a Computational Cardiovascular System Model Comparing the Hemodynamics of a Continuous Flow to a Synchronous Valveless Pulsatile Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device
Author(s) -
Jeffrey R. Gohean,
Mitchell J. George,
Thomas D. Pate,
Mark Kurusz,
Raul G. Longoria,
Richard W. Smalling
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
asaio journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.961
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1538-943X
pISSN - 1058-2916
DOI - 10.1097/mat.0b013e31827db6d4
Subject(s) - pulsatile flow , ventricular assist device , hemodynamics , cardiology , continuous flow , flow (mathematics) , medicine , biomedical engineering , blood flow , mechanics , heart failure , physics
The purpose of this investigation is to use a computational model to compare a synchronized valveless pulsatile left ventricular assist device with continuous flow left ventricular assist devices at the same level of device flow, and to verify the model with in vivo porcine data. A dynamic system model of the human cardiovascular system was developed to simulate the support of a healthy or failing native heart from a continuous flow left ventricular assist device or a synchronous pulsatile valveless dual-piston positive displacement pump. These results were compared with measurements made during in vivo porcine experiments. Results from the simulation model and from the in vivo counterpart show that the pulsatile pump provides higher cardiac output, left ventricular unloading, cardiac pulsatility, and aortic valve flow as compared with the continuous flow model at the same level of support. The dynamic system model developed for this investigation can effectively simulate human cardiovascular support by a synchronous pulsatile or continuous flow ventricular assist device.