Response of the elastance-based control due to changes in afterload and contractility

An elastance-based control (EBC) algorithm has been developed to produce a Frank-Starling response in a mockloop used for evaluation of ventricular assist devices. In this paper, the EBC has been tested for changes in contractility and afterload in order to evaluate its capabilities of mimicking the natural heart response. The results have shown that the end-systolic pressure-volume relationship remains fixed despite changes in afterload and reduction in end systolic pressure with decreasing contractility changes. The EBC algorithm has shown performance similar to the natural heart in response to afterload and contractility changes.