Neonatal Cardiovascular System Simulator

This project explores how simulation can support the design and testing of perinatal life support technology by replicating the cardiovascular system of extremely premature infants. These infants are born with severely underdeveloped organs and require optimal care to survive and grow. As clinical trials with human or animal subjects are ethically restricted at such early developmental stages, simulation-based approaches offer a viable alternative to develop and evaluate life support systems in neonatal care.

To investigate this, we developed a neonatal cardiovascular system simulator featuring a modular peristaltic pump capable of mimicking the pulsatile blood flow of a 24-week-old fetus. Using CAD modelling and 3D printing, we iteratively optimised pump mechanics, tubing dimensions, and sensor placement to achieve a heart rhythm. The resulting prototype allows controlled modulation of flow and pressure, providing a platform for simulating fetal circulation under realistic conditions.

This project served as an exploratory step towards developing a cardiovascular simulation system that could support future research in perinatal life support technology. It integrates MDC through sensor calibration and flow analysis, T&R in the design and fabrication of the simulator and pump and U&S in responding to clinical and ethical constraints.