Simulations of arterial pressure pulses using a transmission line model.

Transmission of pressure pulses from the aorta to the central retinal artery is studied under normal and stenotic conditions. A convenient model for the study is obtained by replacing the arteries with a network of distributed electrical transmission lines. By using boundary conditions and a voltage-pressure analogy, the transmitted pulse is obtained. Stenosis of varying degrees were simulated at different locations and the characteristics of the transmitted pulse was studied by examining its peak value, the dicrotic notch and the systolic slope. The dependence of the characteristics of the transmitted pulse on the physical parameters were also studied.