Numerical simulation of cardiac valve flow velocity patterns in normal and abnormal conditions

Objectives of this paper are to simulate flow velocity patterns of cardiac valves in normal and abnormal conditions using electrical equivalent lumped parameter Cardiovascular System (CVS) model and validate with real subjects´ echocardiograph. Our model consists of detailed representation of supine human CVS with baroreflex control. Cardie valves are characterized by resistance, inertance and bernoulli´s resistance to exactly mimic the nonlinear, turbulent flow nature of physiological valves. Echocardiographs of real patients with valve abnormalities are collected. Echo derived indexes are implemented in model by tuning appropriate parameters based on sensitivity analysis. The simulated flow velocity patterns are well matching with Echo Cardiograph and also the model derived hemodynamic indexes have good agreement with real data. Therefore, our model has the ability to simulate more complicated hemodynamic principles in mitral stenosis and regurgitation of mitral, tricuspid, pulmonary and aortic valves.