A Multi­‐Scale Computer Model of the Cardiovascular System Can Account for the Three Roles of the Left Atrium

Poster (2013, January 28)

A multi-scale cardiovascular system model can account for the load-dependence of the end-systolic pressure-volume relationship.

in BioMedical Engineering OnLine (2013), 12(1), 8

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The end-systolic pressure-volume relationship is often considered as a load-independent property of the heart and, for this reason, is widely used as an index of ventricular ... [plus ▼]

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The end-systolic pressure-volume relationship is often considered as a load-independent property of the heart and, for this reason, is widely used as an index of ventricular contractility. However, many criticisms have been expressed against this index and the underlying time-varying elastance theory: first, it does not consider the phenomena underlying contraction and second, the end-systolic pressure volume relationship has been experimentally shown to be load-dependent. METHODS: In place of the time-varying elastance theory, a microscopic model of sarcomere contraction is used to infer the pressure generated by the contraction of the left ventricle, considered as a spherical assembling of sarcomere units. The left ventricle model is inserted into a closed-loop model of the cardiovascular system. Finally, parameters of the modified cardiovascular system model are identified to reproduce the hemodynamics of a normal dog. RESULTS: Experiments that have proven the limitations of the time-varying elastance theory are reproduced with our model: (1) preload reductions, (2) afterload increases, (3) the same experiments with increased ventricular contractility, (4) isovolumic contractions and (5) flow-clamps. All experiments simulated with the model generate different end-systolic pressure-volume relationships, showing that this relationship is actually load-dependent. Furthermore, we show that the results of our simulations are in good agreement with experiments. CONCLUSIONS: We implemented a multi-scale model of the cardiovascular system, in which ventricular contraction is described by a detailed sarcomere model. Using this model, we successfully reproduced a number of experiments that have shown the failing points of the time-varying elastance theory. In particular, the developed multi-scale model of the cardiovascular system can capture the load-dependence of the end-systolic pressure-volume relationship. [moins ▲]

Direct parameter identification in a model of the cardiovascular system

Poster (2012, December 07)

non invasive estimation of left atrial pressure and mitral valve area waveforms during an entire cardiac cycle

in proceeding of 11th national day of the National Committee on Biomedical Engineering (2012, December 07)

The rabbit left ventricle modeling at the cellular scale: application to flow-clamp experiments

in Proceedings of the 11th Belgian National Day on Biomedical Engineering (2012, December)

Structural model of the mitral valve included in a cardiovascular closed loop model. Static and dynamic validation

in proceedings of 8th IFAC Symposium on Biological and Medical Systems, Budapest 29-31 août 2012 (2012, August 31)

Autonomous electrical activity induced by cardiac tissue deformation in a thermo-electro-mechanical background

in 8th IFAC Symposium on Biological and Medical Systems (2012, August)

In a healthy heart, the mechano-electric feedback (MEF) process acts as an intrinsic regulatory mechanism of the myocardium which allows the normal cardiac contraction by damping mechanical perturbations ... [plus ▼]

In a healthy heart, the mechano-electric feedback (MEF) process acts as an intrinsic regulatory mechanism of the myocardium which allows the normal cardiac contraction by damping mechanical perturbations in order to generate a new healthy electromechanical situation. However, under certain conditions, the MEF can be a generator of dramatic arrhythmias by inducing local electrical depolarizations as a result of abnormal cardiac tissue deformations, via stretch-activated channels (SACs). Then, these perturbations can propagate in the whole heart and lead to global cardiac dysfunctions. In the present study, we examine the spatio-temporal behavior of the autonomous electrical activity induced by the MEF when the heart is subject to temperature variations. For instance, such a situation can occur during a therapeutic hypothermia. This technique is usually used to prevent neuronal injuries after a cardiac resuscitation. From this perspective, we introduce a one-dimensional time-dependent model containing all the key ingredients that allow accounting for excitation-contraction coupling, MEF and thermoelectric coupling. Our simulations show that an autonomous electrical activity can be induced by cardiac deformations, but only inside a certain temperature interval. In addition, in some cases, the autonomous electrical activity takes place in a periodic way like a pacemaker. We also highlight that some properties of the action potentials that are generated by the MEF, are significantly influenced by temperature. Moreover, in the situation where a pacemaker activity occurs, we also show that the period is heavily temperature-dependent. [moins ▲]

Extremely Unstable Evaporative Bénard-Marangoni Systems: the Role of Transients in the Gas

in Book of Conference Abstracts of the International Marangoni Association, 6 (2012)

Evaporation in motion

Article grand public (2012)

Solutal Marangoni instability in a binary liquid layer evaporating into air: the importance of transients in the gas for highly unstable cases

in Bulletin of the American Physical Society, Vol. 57, n°17 (2012) (2012)