Exploring the Responses of Acute AR Through the Design of a Novel Benchtop Physiological Model

Thursday, March 10, 2022

3:00 PM-5:00 PM

BIOMED Master's Thesis Defense

Title:
Exploring the Responses of Acute Aortic Regurgitation (AR) Through the Design of a Novel Benchtop Physiological Model
 
Speaker:
Alison Kane, Master's Candidate
School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems
Drexel University

Advisors:
Janarthanan (Janar) Sathananthan, BHB, MBChB, MPH, FRACP  
Interventional and Structural Cardiologist
University of British Columbia (UBC)
St Paul’s Hospital and Vancouver General Hospital

Amy Throckmorton, PhD
Associate Professor
School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems
Drexel University

Abstract:
Benchtop physiological modeling using a flow loop is a necessary requirement for medical device manufacturers both for the development and the commercial approval of devices. Custom models are frequently created to meet these needs regarding specific anatomical and hemodynamic parameters required to the test cardiovascular devices. Since response to aortic regurgitation (AR) in humans cannot be ethically studied, animal models can be used as a surrogate; however, the expense of these models raises a need for a benchtop model capable of mimicking specific responses. This custom model has been designed for an end user to respond appropriately to acute AR while remaining compliant with certain standards governing traditional benchtop testers.

Through a literature review of animal models, data was compiled for model validation regarding expected left ventricular and aortic pressures changes before and after the production of acute AR. The use of a compliant left ventricle and regurgitant pathway in this novel model allows for increasing ventricular filling during regurgitation, increasing left ventricle end diastolic pressure and reducing aortic diastolic pressure. The results showed that in over 10 trials with >15 cycles, the novel model was able to meet criteria for aortic pressures and cardiac output for a normotensive case. After producing AR, this novel model was able to better mimic clinical data in relative magnitude and direction when compared to a commercially available model by ViVitro.

Contact Information

Natalia Broz
njb33@drexel.edu