Relevancy of a computer controlled in-vitro model of cardiac mechanics in physiological circumstances

To obtain relevant physiological information the physical models of the heart acting as a pump should be adapted to the time-independent diastolic and systolic pressure-volume relation that governs the in vivo cardiac pumping function. The authors describe a pressure-controlled in vitro model of the human left heart that can be extended to a pressure-volume-controlled model. The hydraulic part of the in vitro model, driven by pressurized air, and the electronic part of this model are described. A case study is presented using the pressure-controlled model. The case study indicates a wide range of possible applications of the model