A new thick-walled hydraulic model of the left heart for the assessment of blood-wall interaction using ultrasound

In clinical practice, left ventricular early diastolic performance is most often evaluated noninvasively using (Doppler) echocardiographic techniques. Because the measured blood and myocardial tissue velocities are influenced by various parameters simultaneously, it is not obvious for the clinician to know which parameters are causing a depressed diastolic function. With the help of our newly developed computer controlled hydraulic model of the human left heart, we can individually adjust end-systolic pressure, active relaxation rate, passive myocardial properties and preload. Using this experimental setup, a more fundamental insight in left ventricular isovolumic relaxation and early filling dynamics can be obtained.