These interactive heart models were designed to improve patient education by supplying interactive demonstrations of how congestive heart failure affects the structure and function of their hearts.
This model is a 3D printed PLA plastic heart model with flexible 3D printed TPU removable heart muscle inserts to demonstrate the difference in ventricular muscle in a healthy heart compared to 2 hearts with congestive heart failure. There are 2 models for congestive heart failure: one demonstrating a weakened heart muscle exhibiting systolic dysfunction and one demonstrating a stiffened heart muscle exhibiting diastolic dysfunction. Both types of congestive heart failure lead to reduced cardiac output. To show patients this reduced output, this model has two servo motors (one on each ventricle) which cause the muscles to contract and output fluid into a clear balloon attached to the aortic artery. The servo motor for the normal and stiffened heart muscle is coded to have the same angle of contraction (90 degrees) and the servo for the weakened heart muscle is coded to have a reduced angle of contraction (60 degrees) to show the decreased ability of the weakened heart to eject blood. Once the motor moves in, the heart "contracts" pushing the blood out of the aortic artery and filling the clear balloon with different levels of "blood" (dyed water) differing with each insert/set of code. Both the stiff and weakened inserts lead to a decreased level of cardiac output.
We built the base model and flexible inserts using SolidWorks CAD modeling and coded the servo motors motion using the Arduino IDE software. We physically constructed the Arduino component using wires, a servo motor, and a controller board. The physical model of the heart base was 3D printed using PLA. We additionally had a balloon to attach to the heart model.
These Congestive Heart Failure Models are interactive ways to explain to a patient how their heart functions normally compared to when they're suffering from Congestive Heart Failure. It's important for patients to understand visually how their body individually is affected by Congestive Heart Failure.
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