The CVI project. This is an interactive model of the cardiovascular system that you can download and run on your computer.

XP users: Simply save the file (3 Mb) to your desktop. You must then unzip it to your hard drive by double clicking it. Click on OK and Unzip and it will self-install. To use it go to programs on the START menu and you should see CVI project at the bottom of the program list. Click on it to run the model. The program loads in the folder
C:/program files/CVI project
There are several useful word documents in that folder that may solve any problems you may have.

If you want to remove the program just delete the CVI project folder. No registry entries were made when it was installed. The shortcut on the programs menu can be removed by right clicking on it and selecting delete.

Windows 98, ME and Apple users: You are SOL. It won't work on these systems.

Download Here

Brief Instructions:
To run the model click on the CVI MODEL button. You will see the screen shown below. It is recommended that you click the Auto Run box before continuing the simulation. That causes the model to continue automatically until a new steady-state has been reached. Otherwise you must repeatedly click the RUN MODEL button until a steady-state has been reached. All parameters in yellow boxes can be changed by simply clicking on them. The parameters not in yellow boxes will change accordingly each time a parameter is changed. Blood pressure, cardiac output, and venous return can be displayed as an additional plot by clicking the SHOW PLOT button. For example increase systemic resistance to 140%. Notice the large increase in blood pressure and the small drop in cardiac output. Another experiment is to reduce left ventricular contractility (Emax) to 20%. This simulates heart failure. Notice the elevated left ventricular end diastolic pressure and the reduced ejection fraction. Virtually all of the conditions discussed in lecture can be simulated on this model. The model was written by Carl Rothe, one of the pioneers in the field of cardiovasacular dynamics and is based on the algorithms presented in class. For a detailed video demonstrationg the use of the model click here (24 Mb) and choose OPEN.