STROKE VOLUME VALIDATION AND ENERGY EVALUATION FOR THE DYNAMIC TRAINING OF SKELETAL-MUSCLE VENTRICLES

Skeletal muscle ventricles used for cardiac assistance were trained dy namically by shifting volume within an elastic training device. To opt imize this dynamic training that is by variation of stimulation patter ns and application of drugs, methods for stroke volume and energy eval uation were required. A volume shift induced by a muscle contraction r esulted in a pressure rise in the training device. Stroke volume was c alculated by relating the pressure difference of a muscle contraction to the device's compliance. For validation of the calculated stroke vo lume, a mock system was built to simulate muscle contractions under va rious conditions. The stroke volume measured independently and calcula ted by means of the pressure rise inside the training device, showed a n approximately one-to-one relation (R=0.996). Calculation of delivere d energy from skeletal muscle ventricles thereby became possible. This method offers a simple, reliable and practical procedure to quantify the dynamic training of skeletal muscle ventricles for use in cardiac assistance.