Physical-Interactive Cardiac Flow Simulator: A Potential Tool for Learning Cardiac Hemodynamics

Abstract

Cardiac hemodynamics describes the behavior of blood flow and pressure within the cardiovascular system, constituting a central pillar in professional training for understanding cardiac mechanics and for the diagnosis of cardiac conditions in the clinical field. However, its understanding is limited by the complexity of the phenomenon and the limited accessibility to practical simulation and training tools. This work presents the development of a preliminary prototype of a physical–interactive cardiac flow simulator, designed as a low-cost educational tool for teaching cardiac physiology and pathophysiology by recreating essential hemodynamic aspects for the study of these phenomena. The methodology was structured in three stages: identification of relevant hemodynamic variables; design and integration of the physical, electronic, and control systems; and preliminary validation through expert evaluation, in addition to a pilot study with medical students. The results demonstrated high usability and adequate functional fidelity of the prototype, highlighting its usefulness in the educational field and the possibility of expanding its scope due to its design and structure. It is concluded that the simulator is technically viable and has the potential to strengthen the learning of complex hemodynamic concepts.