An electrical analogue for a pressure-controlled, fluid flow generator for arterial blood-flow simulation

Abstract

To study the human arterial system, we constructed a pressure-controlled, fluid flow generator [1] that allows simulation of pressure and flow waves in a hydraulic system in which the arteries are simulated by collapsible tubes. In this paper we elaborate an electrical analogue of this flow generator. The analogue circuit contains only five electrical components: a source resistance and inductance, and a downstream resistance, inductance and capacitance. The values of the components are obtained from a function fit to the pressure and flow waves generated during steady and pulsatile flow measurements. The pulsation and relaxation times calculated from the analogue model are compared with experimental values. This electrical analogue allows computer simulation of the arterial pressure and flow waves.