Abstract

Striving for a better understanding of complex phenomena of hemodynamics and the need of reliable, clinically relevant information on the circulatory system are the driving forces to refine already existing cardiovascular models. A recent modelling theory is called the reservoir wave paradigm (RWP) and merges two existing models in order to address two important phenomena at the same time: arterial compliance and wave propagation. The aim of this article is to present its inherent concept and to illustrate its sensitivity to different model parameters. For this purpose the RWP is applied to an exemplary pressure waveform originating at the ascending aorta by using two different estimators of systolic time duration as well as two different choices of minimization intervals for the subsequent reservoir pressure fitting. The findings indicate a substantial impact of the chosen optimization interval. In contrast, the effect of the regarded estimators of systolic time duration on the waveform might be considered as negligible.