Computer simulation of the controlled cardiovascular system: application to cardiac assistance evaluation

A pulsatile digital simulator of the controlled cardiovascular system designed to solve simulation, identification, and control problems is presented. It includes four main subsystems relating to the systemic, pulmonary and coronary circulations, the two natural ventricles, the baroreceptor control, and a bypass-type left ventricular assist device (LVAD). Its implementation takes advantage of recent developments in computer-aided design of control system packages which provides the user with a broad range of analysis and design tools. Results are presented which establish the validity of the simulator in significant physiopathological conditions and its usefulness for investigating cardiac assistance effectiveness