CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application Serial No. 63/010,450 filed on April 15, 2020, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to the field of cardiovascular physiology. More particularly, the present invention relates to a three-dimensional heart and vascular system model for use as a teaching aid in the field of cardiovascular physiology.

Background of the Invention

[0004] Cardiovascular physiology is the study of the cardiovascular system in humans or animals, specifically addressing the physiology of the heart and blood vessels. Currently, for use as a teaching aid in this field, various anatomical models of the cardiovascular system may exist. For instance, there may exist static anatomical models of the cardiovascular system of various humans and animals. However, these models may lack the capability of depicting functional mechanisms within the system. Lack of functional mechanisms can limit the ability to simulate various cardiovascular system aspects including, without limitation, heart rate, stroke volume, blood pressure, blood volume, blood flow distribution, and the return of blood to the heart. While there may be some anatomical models of the cardiovascular system that attempt to incorporate functional mechanisms, for instance, those that are driven by a single piston acting as the heart, these models are typically over-simplified and may only be capable of depicting a single aspect of the cardiovascular system for experimental measurement. Further to the aforementioned models, there may exist virtual anatomical models of the cardiovascular system of various humans and animals, however these models may require computer regulation as well as lack interactive manual control. Such manual control can often contribute to a better understanding by the user of the cardiovascular system being modeled.

[0005] Consequently, there is a need for an educational cardiovascular model that allows users (e.g., students and instructors) to simulate aspects of the cardiovascular system including, without limitation, heart rate, stroke volume, blood pressure, blood volume, blood flow distribution, and the return of blood to the heart, thus facilitating a better understanding of the cardiovascular system being modeled.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0006] These and other needs in the art are addressed in one embodiment by a model for teaching the principle of cardiovascular physiology comprising a body including a front portion, and a second portion, the front portion including a plurality of grooves forming channels for the flow of fluid, the second portion including a plurality of collapsible fluid chambers representing the first chambers of the heart, and means for collapsing the fluid chambers.

[0007] The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other embodiments for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent embodiments do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0008] For a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0009] Figure 1 illustrates a frontal view of an educational cardiovascular model in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

[0010] Figure 2 illustrates a rear view of an educational cardiovascular model in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; [0011] Figure 3 illustrates an enlarged view of heart chambers and a cardiac pumping mechanism in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

[0012] Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of a simulated heart chamber in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and

[0013] Figure 5 illustrates a perspective view of a one-way check valve in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0014] Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a frontal and rear view of an educational cardiovascular model 2 comprising two or more planar sheets 4, heart chambers 6, a cardiac pumping mechanism 7, and a base 8. In embodiments, two or more planar sheets 4 may be selected from transparent materials such as, without limitation, glass, Plexiglass, plastic, or any combinations thereof and bonded together by any suitable means. Transparency may allow a user to see the inner workings of educational cardiovascular model 2. In embodiments, the bonded two or more planar sheets 4 may be in an upright position and supported by base 8, thus providing the vertical structure illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

[0015] As further illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, one of the two or more planar sheets 4 may comprise a plurality of grooves that may form channels 10-16 acting as arterial tubes in which fluid (i.e., red liquid to simulate blood) may flow through. In embodiments, the plurality of grooves may be present in a middle planar sheet sandwiched between two outer planar sheets. In regards to channels 10-16, channel 10 may comprise blood flowing from an aorta reservoir 18 to a brain reservoir 20. Further, channel 11 may comprise blood flowing from aorta reservoir 18 to valves 22 which may act as arteries used to supply blood to other portions of the body such as, without limitation, the digestive system, the muscular system, and generic other tissue systems. These systems may be represented by channels 12, 13, and 14 with the amount of blood flowing through these systems being controlled or adjusted by valves 22. After flowing through any combination of channels 12, 13, and 14, the blood may be combined in return channel 15 which may flow to the vena cava reservoir 74. In some embodiments, valves 22 may be placed at any location in the blood flow to simulate disorders in the body such as kidney and liver issues.

[0016] In embodiments, the channels 10-16 may be connected to heart chambers 6 such that the blood flowing through educational cardiovascular model 2 may be supplied by and returned to particular chambers of heart chambers 6. Further, in some embodiments, the flow of blood to and from the lungs 72 includes channels that may be connected to the appropriate heart chambers 6. Figures 2 and 3 illustrate heart chambers 6 as comprising upper atria chambers 34 and 36 and lower ventricle chambers 38 and 40 disposed on the rear side of two or more planar sheets 4. In embodiments, heart chambers 6 may be formed from any resilient material which allows its volume to be compressed. An example of such a heart chamber 6 may be illustrated in Figure 4, the chamber comprising an upper dome 53 and an annular flange 54. In embodiments, each heart chamber 6 may comprise fluid inlets or outlets that may be in fluid communication with the channels in model 2. Further, these inlets and outlets may comprise check valves 66 (illustrated in Figure 5) which only allow for one-way travel of flowing fluid, as is consistent with that of a real heart. In embodiments, check valves 66 may comprise a support 68 and a pivot flap 70. Heart chambers 6 and check valves 66 may be formulated by using 3D printing technology.

[0017] In order to simulate blood flow through the channels of educational cardiovascular model 2, cardiac pumping mechanism 7 may be disposed on the rear side of two or more planar sheets 4 and over heart chambers 6. Figures 2 and 3 illustrate cardiac pumping mechanism 7 as comprising a first pair of flanges 42 and 44 that may provide rotary support for a shaft 46. Further, a pair of gears 48 and 50 may be fixed to shaft 46 with a pumping roller 52 being attached to gears 48 and 50 at an outer portion of the gears. In embodiments, cardiac pumping mechanism may further comprise a second pair of flanges 54 and 56 that may provide rotary support for a second shaft 58. Further, a second pair of gears 60 and 62 may be fixed to second shaft 58 with a second pumping roller 64 being attached to gears 60 and 62 at an outer portion of the gears. In embodiments, second shaft 58 may extend outwardly from flange 54 and may be connected to a crank mechanism 64 as illustrated in Figure 2. Cardiac pumping mechanism 7 may be configured such that gears 48 and 50 mesh with gears 60 and 62, respectively. Further, pumping rollers 52 and 64 may be positioned in an offset formation such that upon cranking cardiac pumping mechanism 7, pumping rollers 52 and 64 may sequentially engage flexible, collapsible heart chambers 6, thus simulating the pumping action of a heart.

[0018] While the drive mechanism for collapsing the heart chambers could be powered by an electric motor with adjustable speed controller, a hand-crank system requires hands-on student interaction with the model to promote student participation and peer collaboration while keeping production costs low. Heart rate is therefore manipulated manually by increasing crank speed. In order to manipulate the volume of blood ejected with each cycle, stroke volume can be manipulated by positioning the rollers closer or further from the simulated heart chambers, thereby creating a greater pumping with each cycle. By adjusting valves to pump simulated blood directly into a measured volume container, the concept of cardio output as a function of heart rate and stroke volume can be easily demonstrated.

[0019] When demonstrating more complex aspects of circulatory blood flow, educational cardiovascular model 2 valves can be adjusted to pump the blood through the model circulatory system with a high-pressure arterial side, and an elastic low pressure, high volume venous side. The left ventricle pumps blood into an “aorta” collecting reservoir 18. Rising from the top of the aorta column is a thin vertical open-ended graduated tube 72 leading upwards past the “brain” to open at the top of the model. This thin tube supplies blood to the brain as well as serves as a barometer of pressure within the aorta reservoir 18. Blood may also flows downward from the aorta reservoir 18 through a narrower “arterial” tube (channel 11) which branches to form a set of three smaller horizontal arteries (valves 22) supplying blood to separate channels representing the digestive system, the muscular system, and generic other tissues system. Flow through each of these systems can be adjusted with valves 22. After flowing horizontally through each of these systems, blood is returned to a common venous collecting pool 74 with a series of elastic balloon chambers leading back up towards the heart. These chambers are separated by one-way check valves 66, and can be squeezed to represent venous valves and the role of muscular pumping to return blood to the heart. This blood may then be pumped through the right atrium and ventricle and out to the pulmonary section which may directly be returned to the left atrium to once again begin flow through the left atrium and ventricle to return to systemic circulation.

[0020] Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations may be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.