Introduction to Cardiovascular Mechanics

ABOUT THE COURSE: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of mortality in the world and in India as of the year 2019. The onset and progress of many CVDs are affected by mechanical factors. The design of devices used in their treatment requires a knowledge of mechanics. This course will summarize the anatomy, physiology, and mechanics of the heart, blood, and vasculature in the human body. It aims to serve as a stepping stone for engineers wishing to engage with the biomedical device industry.INTENDED AUDIENCE: UG/PG students of Biomedical/Mechanical/Chemical EngineeringPREREQUISITES: Fluid Mechanics Mechanics of Materials/Solid MechanicsINDUSTRY SUPPORT: Biomedical Device Companies like Abbott India Ltd, India Medtronic Pvt Ltd, Johnson & Johnson, Stryker, etc.

Syllabus

Week 1:

Motivation & Definitions: Mortality due to CVDs, Mechanics at cell level, Organ system hierarchy.
Structure-Function Relations in the body: Examples in each organ system.
Basics of Continuum Mechanics: Body, Motion, Deformation gradient, Velocity gradient, Constitutive models (fluid/solid).

Week 2:

Heart Anatomy: Heart muscle layers, Chambers, Valves,
The Cardiac Cycle: P-V changes during systole & diastole
Mechanics of the Heart: Geometry, Material symmetry, Heterogeneity, Deformation, Models of muscle layers.

Week 3:

Blood Composition: RBCs, WBCs, Platelets, Plasma
Blood Rheology (Experiments): Rheology of blood constituents, whole blood.
Blood Rheology (Models): 1D Continuum models, 3D Continuum models, Mixture theory models.

Week 4:

Vasculature (Anatomy & Physiology): Structure (Arteries, Arterioles, Capillaries, Venules, Veins), Pressure regulation & distribution in each vessel, Wall layers.
Mechanics of the Vasculature: Elastic models of walls of different arteries.