Simulation of Cardiovascular Dise ases Using Electronic Circuits

We have developed an electr onic circuit to simulate the behavior of the cardiovascular system under normal or pathological conditions. The current, voltage, charge, resistance and capacitance of the circuit correspond to flow, blood pressure, volume, resistance and capacitance of the simulated cardiovascular system, respectively. We have implemented a circuit with two ventricles separated from the systemic and the pulmonary circulation to simulate normal conditions. Vital parameters of the cardiovascular system such as aortic pressure, cardiac output, end-diastolic or systolic volume of right or left ventricle, left and right ventricular pressure, blood volume, pulmonary artery pressure and stroke volume can be obtained. Qualitative and quantitative agreement with the Starling preparation has been achieved for a 120 sec simulation time. We have also simulated pathological situations such as left ventricular failure, mitral stenosis, aortic valvular stenosis, hypertension, pulmonic valve stenosis adjusting the parameters of the circuit components.