Interaction of a percutaneous ventricular assist device with the cardiovascular system

A mathematical model of the cardiovascular system, including several receptors of the central nervous system (such as baroreflex, chemoreflex, and lung stretch receptors), were implemented to simulate the key cardiovascular hemodynamic variables under different physiological conditions. These conditions are isocapnic hypoxia, cardiac failure, and recovery. The values of the key hemodynamic variables from simulation were found to be consistent with literature. The model of the TandemHeart percutaneous ventricular assist device (pVAD) was integrated with the cardiovascular system model to simulate the interaction between the cardiovascular system and the pVAD. A series of tests showed that the blood pressure and flow variables from the simulation agreed with the clinical data found in literature. The model can be used to simulate the amount of blood flow a pVAD will deliver to the cardiovascular system with different cannula configurations, as well as show interactions of the cardiovascular system with the pVAD under different heart conditions.