• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.264-270
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• 2015

A mock circulatory loop system has been developed to construct a simulator for trainees in cardiopulmonary bypass systems or to simulate a test environment for cardiac-assist devices. This paper proposes a computerized mock circulatory loop system whose node is modularized by using a servo control flow regulator to simulate dynamic change of the hemodynamic status. To observe the effect of time-varying resistance, one with hemodynamic properties, the proposed system replicates the planned cross-sectional areas of the outlet of a ventricular assist device in terms of voltage input of a servo valve. The experiment is performed (1) for steady-input commands of selected area sizes and (2) for dynamic commands such as monotonous increase and decrease, and oscillatory functions of the voltage input, and a computer program based on LabVIEW (National Instruments, Austin, USA) processes every measured data and control command to the servo valve. The results show that the pressure and flow at the target points with respect to time-varying resistance match intuitive estimation: the pressure at the outlet and the pressure drop between both sides of the valve increased and the flow at the outlet decreased for increased resistance.

• The Journal of Korea Robotics Society
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.221-228
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• 2024

As the importance of cardiovascular health is highlighted, research on its correlation with blood pressure, the most important indicator, is being actively conducted. Therefore, extensive clinical data is essential, but the measurement of the central arterial blood pressure waveform must be performed invasively within the artery, so the quantity and quality are limited. This study suggested a mock circulatory robot and artificial aorta to reproduce the blood pressure waveform generated by the overlap of forward and reflected waves. The artificial aorta was fabricated with biomimetic silicone to mimic the physiological structure and vascular stiffness of the human. A pressurizing chamber was implemented to prevent distortion of the blood pressure waveform due to the strain-softening of biomimetic silicone. The reproduced central arterial blood pressure waveforms have similar magnitude, shape, and propagation characteristics to humans. In addition, changes in blood pressure waveform due to aging were also reproduced by replacing an artificial aorta with various stiffness. It can be expanded to construct a biosignal database and health sensor testing platform, a core technology for cardiovascular health-related research.