Abstract

This research project has two main objectives: the first one is to design and create an in vitro heart simulator that can replicate the human heart conditions during Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) procedure, and the second is to determine the optimal location and parameters for compressions during CPR by comparing the hemodynamics effects resulting from the variation of these parameters. For that, an innovative custom-made in vitro heart simulator is designed. This simulator is a novel and non-invasive method that provides numerous benefits, including the ability to gather patient-specific data without causing harm to humans or animals. The system is first proved to be reliable by comparing the results obtained from the simulator to the literature. The optimal compression area with the best aortic pressure and flow outcome is then determined by testing different locations of compression on the right ventricle. The results showed that the centre of the right ventricle which correlates to the centre of the left ventricle had the most favorable outcome in terms of aortic pressure and flow. Through a comparison of the results with current guidelines and recent literature findings, this study suggests that the compressions should be positioned down and to the left of the inter-nipple line.