Minimal cardiovascular system model including a physiological description of progressive mitral valve orifice dynamics for studying valve dysfunction

INTRODUCTION The minimal cardiovascular system (CVS) model described in this study was first developed and optimized [1] to assist clinicians in diagnosing cardiovascular and circulatory dysfunction and (then) selecting reliable and appropriate therapeutic responses. This model is based on the “pressurevolume” (PV) lumped element approach. It divides the cardiovascular system in several chambers described by their own PV relationship [1,4]. This method requires a limited number of parameters, allowing for easy and rapid simulations and for patient specific identification of disease state [5,7]. In this research, this closed-loop CVS model is coupled with a model describing the progressive aperture dynamics of the mitral valve during the cardiac cycle. Thus, a model of the left atrium and its dynamics are also required for an accurate physiological context. The goal is to better take into account the valve dynamics during the entire cardiac cycle and their impact on circulatory dynamics. Clinically, understanding this impact and the ability to identify it would lead to new diagnostic capabilities for valvular dysfunction.