LINEAR HYDRAULIC PRESSURE-PULSE ACTUATOR (LHPA) - A VERSATILE INSTRUMENT THAT PRODUCES A SIMULATED BLOOD-PRESSURE PULSE-WAVE FOR SMALL-SIZED VESSELS

An instrument is presented which produces a simulated circulatory puls atile pressure wave for small sized vessels. The linear hydraulic pres sure-pulse actuator (LHPA) is designed to be extremely versatile, that is, a blood pressure wave source of any shape, amplitude, offset and frequency can be simulated. In addition, the LHPA can reproduce accura tely a real pulse pressure wave by simply inputting an actual data rec ord of a circulatory pressure pulse. The design is accomplished by inc orporating the use of a linear force solenoid driven with a voltage-to -current source power amplifier. Testing of the device is presented he re, as well as pressure pulse results from a recorded pulsatile pressu re input to the LHPA. The device is simple to implement in that its re sponse is linear, for volume changes upto +/-5 mL, without the need fo r feedback compensation.