Cardiac simulation device

Abstract

The present invention describes a device and system for simulating normal and disease state cardiovascular functioning, including an anatomically accurate left cardiac simulator for training and medical device testing. The system and device uses pneumatically pressurized chambers to generate ventricle and atrium contractions. In conjunction with the interaction of synthetic valves which simulate mitral and aortic valves, the system is designed to generate pumping action that produces accurate volume fractions and pressure gradients of pulsatile flow, duplicating that of a human heart. Through the use of a control unit and sensors, one or more parameters such as flow rates, fluidic pressure, and heart rate may be automatically controlled, using feedback loop mechanisms to adjust parameters of the hydraulic system to simulate a wide variety of cardiovascular conditions including normal heart function, severely diseased or injured heart conditions, and compressed vasculature, such as hardening of the arteries.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cardiovascular simulator system comprising:
 a cardiac system module for simulating cardiac functioning of a patient atrium assembly for simulating blood flow through an atrium of a heart comprising a rigid outer casing sized and shaped to house a pressurized air delivery device therein and fluidly connected to a flexible, fluid filled inner chamber, said flexible, fluid filled inner chamber constructed and arranged to contract when a pressurized fluid is exerted thereupon, thereby causing said fluid stored within to be ejected out, and expand when said pressurized fluid is removed, and a ventricle assembly for simulating blood flow through a ventricle of a heart comprising an irregularly shaped, flexible ventricle assembly inner member having said fluid stored within and surrounded by a rigid ventricle assembly outer member, said ventricle assembly inner member and said rigid ventricle assembly outer member being separated by a space therebetween, whereby pressurized fluid inserted within said space exerts a force upon said flexible ventricle assembly inner member causing said flexible ventricle assembly inner member to eject said fluid stored within;   a vasculature system module comprising at least one tubing adapted to have characteristics of a human artery or vein and fluidly connected to at least a portion of said cardiac system module;   a pneumatic supply system fluidly connected to at least a portion of said atrium assembly and to at least a portion of said ventricle assembly;   a fluid reservoir configured to receive said fluid therein;   a compliance chamber; and   a control unit operatively coupled to at least one or more pressure sensors or flow sensors operatively coupled to at least one component of said cardiac system module, said vasculature system module, said pneumatic supply system, said fluid reservoir, or said compliance chamber; said control unit configured to control or modify one or more operational parameters of said cardiovascular simulator system via feedback loop systems;   said cardiovascular simulator system providing an anatomically and physiologically accurate representation of a cardiovascular system in normal or diseased states whereby said one or more operational parameters are automatically controlled without the need for manual adjustments.   
     
     
         2 . The cardiovascular simulator system according to  claim 1  further including at least one resistance valve configured to adjust the flow rate of a fluid within said system. 
     
     
         3 . The cardiovascular simulator system according to  claim 2  wherein said at least one resistance valve is an electrically adjustable fluid valve. 
     
     
         4 . The cardiovascular simulator system according to according to  claim 1  wherein said control unit is configured to control the timing or speed of generation of pressurized air within said system. 
     
     
         5 . The cardiovascular simulator system according to according to  claim 4  where said vasculature system module comprises at least one tubing adapted to have characteristics of a human or other mammal artery or vein and fluidly connected to at least a portion of said cardiac system module. 
     
     
         6 . The cardiovascular simulator system according to according to  claim 1  further including a head module, said head module comprising a plurality of tubing suspended in a gel like material and fluidly connected to said cardiac system module or vasculature system module. 
     
     
         7 . The cardiovascular simulator system according to according to  claim 6  further including at least one resistance valve configured to adjust the flow rate of said fluid entering said head module. 
     
     
         8 . The cardiovascular simulator system according to  claim 1  further including at least one flow meter configured for converting volumetric flow rate of a fluid not associated with a head region to an electrical signal or at least one flow meter configured for converting volumetric flow rate of fluid associated with said head region to an electrical signal. 
     
     
         9 . The cardiovascular simulator system according to  claim 1  further comprising a heating device configured to heat a fluid within said system. 
     
     
         10 . The cardiovascular simulator system according to  claim 1  wherein said fluid is adapted to have characteristics of blood. 
     
     
         11 . The cardiovascular simulator system according to  claim 1  further comprising a computer device operatively connected to said control unit. 
     
     
         12 . The cardiovascular simulator system according to  claim 11  wherein said computer device is wirelessly linked to said control unit. 
     
     
         13 . The cardiovascular simulator system according to  claim 1  wherein said flexible atrium assembly inner member is anatomically modeled after an atrium of a patient. 
     
     
         14 . The cardiovascular simulator system according to  claim 1  wherein said flexible ventricle assembly inner member is anatomically modeled after a ventricle of a patient.