A physiologically representative in vitro model of the coronary circulation.

With the development of clinical diagnostic techniques to investigate the coronary circulation in conscious humans, the in vitro validation of such newly developed techniques is of major importance. The aim of this study was to develop an in vitro model that is able to mimic the coronary circulation in such a way that coronary pressure and flow signals under baseline as well as hyperaemic conditions are approximated as realistically as possible and are in accordance with recently gained insights into such signals in conscious man. In the present in vitro model the heart, the systemic and coronary circulation are modelled on the basis of the elements of a lumped parameter mathematical model only consisting of elements that can be represented by segments in an experimental set-up.