Abstract
A digital, many-compartment model of the human circulatory system, which simulates pulsatile blood flow and gas transport and exchange, has been developed. The model is specifically designed to study short-term whole-body acceleration gz encountered in modern aerial combat manoeuvres, and incorporates a realistic representation of the nonlinear elastic characteristics of circulatory elements and the related pressure-dependent flow resistance characteristic of these elements. The model has been shown to properly simulate human data for passive breathing in a supine subject. The computed carbon dioxide and oxygen partial pressures vary realistically around measured average partial pressures for human subjects. The computed time variation of pressures, circulatory chamber volumes and flow rates match corresponding human data. Under sinusoidal gz variations, the model predicts realistic variations of volumes, flows and pressures.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Attinger, E., Anne, A., Mikami, T. andSugawara, H. (1968) Modelling of pressure-flow relations in arteries and veins. InHemerheology,Copley, A. L. (Ed.), Pergamon Press.
Bailey, H. R. (1967) Oxygen exchange between capillary and tissue: some equations describing countercurrent and nonlinear transport. InPhysical Bases of Circulatory Transport: Regulation and exchange,Reeve,E. B. et al. (Eds.), W. B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia, Penn., USA, pp. 353–366.
Beneken, J. E. W. (1963) Investigation of the regulatory system of the blood circulation. InCirculatory Analog Computers,Noordergraaf,A. et al. (Eds.), North-Holland Publishing Co., Amsterdam, pp. 16–28.
Beneken, J. E. W. (1964) Electronic analog computer model of the human blood circulation. InPulsatile Blood Flow,Attinger,E. O. (Ed.), New York, McGraw-Hill, pp. 423–432.
Beneken, J. E. W. andGrupping, J. C. M. (1965) Electronic analog computer model of the human circulatory system. InMedical Electronics,Bostem,F. H. (Ed.), Bruxelles, Besoer.
Beneken, J. E. W. andDeWitt, B. (1967) A physical approach to hemodynamic aspects of the human cardiovascular system. InPhysical Bases of Circulatory Transport: Regulation and Exchange,Reeve, E. G., Guyton, Arthur C. andSaunders, W. B. (Eds.), pp. 1–45.
Bergel, E. H. (1964)Pulsatile Blood Flow,Attinger,E. O. (Ed.), McGraw-Hill, NY.
Borst, H. G., McGregor, M., Whittengerger, J. L. andBerglund, E. (1956) Influence of pulmonary arterial and left atrial pressures on pulmonary vascular resistance.Circulations Res., pp. 393–399.
Boyers, D. G., Cuthbertson, J. G. andLuetscher, J. A. (1972) Simulation of the human cardiovascular system: a model with normal responses to change of posture, blood loss, transfusion, and autonomic blockage.Simulation,18, pp. 197–205.
Carnahan, B., Luther, H. A. andWilkes, J. O. (1969)Applied Numerical Methods. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Croston, R. C., Rummel, J. A. andKay, F. J. (1973) Computer model of cardiovascular control system responses to exercise.J. Dynamic Systems, Measurement, and Controls, pp. 301–307.
Dahn, I., Jonson, B. andNilson, R. (1970) Plethysmographicin vivo determination of the elastic properties of arteries in man.J. Appl. Physiol.,28, pp. 328–332.
DeFores, J. G., Hara, H. H., Osborn, J. J. andMcLeod, J. (1963) Theoretical analysis and computer simulation of the circulation with special reference to the Starling properties of ventricles. InCirculatory Analog Computers,Noordergraaf,A. et al. (Eds.), North-Holland Publishing Co., Amsterdam, pp. 91–122.
Dick, D. E. andRideout, V. C. (1965) Analog simulation of left heart and arterial dynamics, Proceedings of the 18th ACEMB, Philadelphia.
Emery, B. andPack, A. I. (1971) An experimentally verified model of the gas exchanging properties of the lung. Conference on Computers for Analysis and Control in Medical Biological Research, pp. 130–134.
Gomez, D. M. (1965) Considerations of oxygen-hemoglobin equilibrium in the physiological state.Am. J. Physiol.,49, pp. 105–124.
Green, J. F. andMiller, N. C. (1973) A model describing the response of the circulatory system to acceleration stress.Ann. Biomedical Engineering,1, pp. 455–467.
Grodins, F. S. andBuoncristiani, J. F. (1967) General formulation of the cardiovascular control problemmathematical models of the mechanical system. InPhysical Bases of Circulatory Transport: Regulation and Exchange,Reeve,E. B. et al. (Eds.), W. B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia, Penn., pp. 61–76.
Grodins, F. S., Buell, J. andBart, A. J. (1967) Mathematical analysis and digital simulation of the respiratory control system.J. Appl. Physiol.,22, pp. 260–276.
Hwang, N. H. C. andChao, J. C. (1971) An integral form of the hydraulic transmission line equation as applied to circulatory systems. Ninth Annual Symposium on Biomathematical Computing Science in Life Series.
Kelman, G. R. (1967) Digital computer procedure for the conversion ofP CO into blood CO2 content.Respir. Physiol.,3, pp. 111–115.
Knapp, C. F. (1977) Response to the cardiovascular system to vibration and combined stress. Progress Report to US Air Force Office of Scientific Research.
Morris, T. W., Abbrecht, P. H. andLeverett, S. D. (1974) Diameter-pressure relationships in the unexposed femoral vein.Am. J. Physiol.,227, pp. 782–788.
Noordergraaf, A., Boom, H. B. K. andVerdouw, P. D. (1960) A human systemic circulatory analog computer. Proceedings of the First Congress of the Society for B.C.G. Research, Zeist.
Noordergraaf, A., Jager, G. N. andWesterhof, N. (1963)Circulatory Analog Computers. North-Holland Publishing Co., Amsterdam.
Noordergraaf, A., Verdouw, P. D., van Brummelen, A. G. W. andWiegel, F. W. (1964) Analog of the arterial bed. InPulsatile Blood Flow,Attinger,E. O. (Ed.), McGraw-Hill, New York.
Patel, D. J., Greenfield, J. C. andFry, D. L. (1964)In vivo pressure length-radius relationship of certain blood vessels in man and dog. InPulsatile Blood Flow,Attinger,E. O. (Ed.), McGraw-Hill, NY, pp. 293–305.
Payne, R. M., Stone, H. L. andEngelken, E. J. (1971) Atrial function during volume loading.J. Appl. Physiol.,31, pp. 326–331.
Perry, R. H. andChilton, C. H. (1973)Chemical Engineers Handbook, McGraw-Hill, New York.
Reeve, E. G. andGuyton, A. C. (1967)Physical Bases of Circulatory Transport: Regulation and Exchange, W. B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia, Penn.
Robinson, D. A. (1963) Ventricular dynamics and the cardiac representation problem. InCirculatory Analog Computers,Noordergraaf,A. et al. (Eds.), North-Holland Publishing Co., Amsterdam, pp. 56–81.
Ruch, T. C. andPatton, H. D. (1974)Physiology and Biophysics, W. B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia, Penn.
Saidel, G. M., Militano, T. C. andChester, E. H. (1971) Pulmonary gas transport characterised by a dynamic model.Resp. Physiol.,12, p. 305.
Saidel, G. M., Militano, T. C. andChester, E. H. (1972) Mass-balance model of pulmonary oxygen transport.IEEE Trans.,BME 19, p. 205.
Skalak, R. (1966) Wave propagation in blood flow. InBiomechanics,Fung, Y. C. (Ed.), ASME, pp. 20–46.
West, J. G. (1977)Bioengineering Aspects of the Lung. Marcel Dekker, Inc., NY.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hardy, H.H., Collins, R.E. & Calvert, R.E. A digital computer model of the human circulatory system. Med. Biol. Eng. Comput. 20, 550–564 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02443402
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02443402