A Computer for the Calculation of Skeletal Muscle Vascular Resistance

On-line dynamic experiments on skeletal muscle vascular resistance require an extensive number of simple calculations in order to derive the data. A low-cost analog computer is described which utilizes perfusion pressure, venous flow, and muscle weight to calculate vascular resistance per 100 gm of muscle weight. This computer has been in use with the isolated perfused canine gracilis muscle preparation and has been shown to have considerable merit in reducing calculations and permitting immediate evaluation of the experimental data. A drop rate meter is incorporated in the device for the calculation of venous flow; perfusion pressure is obtained from a standard commercial transducer. A block diagram is included, and typical data are shown which illustrate the usefulness of continuous on-line calculation of resistance.