MOCK CIRCULATORY-SYSTEM FOR IN-VITRO REPRODUCTION OF THE LEFT-VENTRICLE, THE ARTERIAL TREE AND THEIR INTERACTION WITH A LEFT-VENTRICULAR ASSIST DEVICE

A modular physical circuit for testing monoventricular and biventricul ar heart assist devices (HAD) is under development. The modules note, available are assembled in an open-loop circuit and reproduce the func tion of the left ventricle and the systemic arterial tree. The left ve ntricle model reproduces Starling's law of the heart and can be easily controlled to modify other parameters such as contractility and timin g (i.e. heart rate and systole/diastole ratio). This circuit, in conne ction with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), can be used to eva luate the LVAD performance, its effect on the circulatory system and a s a training system. This paper is devoted to a description of the cir cuit and of its interaction with a LVAD, which is analysed after the s imulation of a low contractility pathology of the ventricle. Results o btained in these experiments are reported.