Introducing a distributed model of the heart

Conventional models of cardiovascular system (CV) frequently lack required detail. Once utilized to study the heart function, these models focus primarily on the overall relationship between pressure, flow and volume. This study proposes a localized and regional model of the CV system. It utilizes non-invasive blood flow and pressure seed data and temporal cardiac muscle regional activation to predict the operation of the heart. Proposed localized analysis considers specific regions of the heart, namely base, mid and apex sections of the left ventricle. This modular system is based on a hydraulic electric analogy model, estimating desired parameters, namely resistance (R), compliance (C), and inertial (L) coefficients, from respective regional blood flow and pressure values. The proposed method of estimation for these parameters is the Recursive Least Square (RLS) algorithm. Results present meaningful and detailed information when compared to clinical findings. In particular, ejection fraction of 73 ± 5 %, systolic pressure of 102 ± 15 mmHg, and diastolic pressure of 65 ± 10 mmHg, are all within the acceptable range of normal cardiovascular operation. Proposed analytical method can in effect be utilized as a pre-clinical and predictive tool for high risk heart patients.