Mock circulatory system

It is a device able to evaluate the valve performance in conditions similar both to the physiological ones and to the most common cardiovascular pathologies. Such an apparatus has already been described in detail in a previous paper. Besides testing prosthetic valves, this mock circulatory system can evaluate vascular prosthe-ses, left heart replacement pumps, intraaortic balloon pumps and other circulatory assistance devices. Neither the anatomic complexity nor the physiological behaviour can be exactly reproduced, but the simplicity of use and the good results obtained with this device, show its efficiency. 

Output data from the mock circulatory system, during a cardiac cycle, are the aortic and ventricular pressure diagrams, the flow rate through the valve diagram and the average values of these variables. As an example. Fig. 2 shows the output data obtained while testing a tilting disc Hall Raster (HK) valve of 27 mm tissue anulus diameter (TAD). Nine different tests have been performed at three... 

G. Nardi, S. Cicconardi, P. Dario and D. De Rossi, Modular hydropneumatic mock circulatory system for the evaluation of cardiovascular prostheses, ASAIO J., 4 139 (1981). 

The functionality of the valve has been tested with equipment which has been made in our laboratory. Pulsatile flow tests on a mock circulatory system, flow patterns, measurements of steady retrograde flow and pressure drop across the valve, in vivo tests have been carried out. By the pulsatile flow tests, the shapes of curves referring to ventricular and aortic pressure and to flow rate, similar to that shown by other kinds of valves, have been observed. 

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