CellML Implementation of a Numerical Model for the Cardiovascular System under VAD Support

In this study numerical simulation is carried out to investigate cardiovascular response under the support of a displacement pump type ventricular assist device (VAD). The native cardiovascular system model employed in this study is a simplified version of a published system model, and the VAD is characterized by prescribed flow-rate changes in the VAD inlet and outlet. The CellML markup language is used for the description of the numerical model, and the resulting model is executed in the PCEnv simulation environment for the calculation of cardiac responses. Simulation results show that the VAD provides satisfactory support to the diseased heart. CellML, combined with PCEnv, provides a flexible and cohesive environment for the description of models represented by systems of ordinary differential equations, and thus facilitates the study of the dynamics of the circulation.