title: A mock heart engineered with helical aramid fibers for in vitro cardiovascular device testing.
abstract: Mock heart circulation loops (MHCLs) serve as in-vitro platforms to investigate the physiological interaction between circulatory systems and cardiovascular devices. A mock heart (MH) engineered with silicone walls and helical aramid fibers, to mimic the complex contraction of a natural heart, has been developed to advance the MHCL previously developed in our group. A mock aorta with an anatomical shape enables the evaluation of a cannulation method for ventricular assist devices (VADs) and investigation of the usage of clinical measurement systems like pressure-volume catheters. Ventricle and aorta molds were produced based on MRI data and cast with silicone. Aramid fibers were layered in the silicone ventricle to reproduce ventricle torsion. A rotating hollow shaft was connected to the apex enabling the rotation of the MH and the connection of a VAD. Silicone wall thickness, aramid fiber angle and fiber pitch were varied to generate different MH models. All MH models were placed in a tank filled with variable amounts of water and air simulating the compliance. In this work, physiological ventricular torsion angles (15°-26°) and physiological pressure-volume loops were achieved. This MHCL can serve as a comprehensive testing platform for cardiovascular devices, such as artificial heart valves and cannulation of VADs.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen.
authors.forename: So-Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Jansen-Park
authors.affiliation: Artificial Organ Technology Laboratory, Biomufacturing Centre, School of Mechanical and Electric Engineering, Soochow University, Jiangsu.
authors.forename: Po-Lin
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen.
authors.forename: Indra
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.affiliation: Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Steinseifer
authors.affiliation: Institute of Automatic Control, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Abel
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, University Hospital Aachen, Aachen.
authors.forename: Rüdiger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Autschbach
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospital Aachen, Aachen.
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rossaint
authors.affiliation: Institute of Applied Medical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schmitz-Rode
mesh_terms: D032701:Biomimetics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D006321:Heart / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans
keywords: aramid fiber; cardiovascular device testing; compliance; mock circulation loop; mock heart; ventricle torsion