Modeling Pulsatility in the Human Cardiovascular System

Abstract

In this study we investigated, modified and combined two existing mathematical cardiovascular models, a non-pulsatile global model and a simplified pulsatile left heart model. The first goal of the study was to integrate these models. The main objective is to have a global lumped parameter pulsatile model that predicts the pressures in the systemic and pulmonary circulation, and specifically the pulsatile pressures in the the finger arteries where real-time measurements can be obtained. Modifications were made in the ventricular elastance to model the stiffness of heart muscles under stress or exercise state. The systemic aorta compartment is added to the combined model. A finger artery compartment is included to reflect measurements of pulsatile pressures. Parameters were estimated to simulate an average normal blood pressures. Preliminary simulation results are presented.