Systems and methods for monitoring blood flow using a dynamic optical phantom

A system for monitoring blood flow, the system comprising:

• a phantom body part model that mimics compliance and elasticity of human skin;
• tubing, a first portion of which is embedded in the phantom body part model;
• a blood-mimicking fluid (BMF) disposed in the tubing;
• a pressurized bulb pump flow mechanism in operable communication with the phantom body part model and configured to drive pulsatile flow of the BMF through the tubing to mimic arterial pulse behavior;
• a motor in operable communication with the pressurized bulb pump flow mechanism and configured to cause the pressurized bulb pump flow mechanism to compress;
• a cam disposed on the motor and a shaft disposed between the cam and the pressurized bulb pump flow mechanism;
• and
• an optical sensor disposed proximate to the phantom body part model and configured to optically sense photoplethysmography (PPG) waveforms of the BMF in the first portion of the tubing embedded in the phantom body part model during operation of the system,
• the shaft being in direct physical contact with the cam and the pressurized bulb pump flow mechanism,
• the motor being configured to cause the cam to turn and thereby push the shaft into the pressurized bulb pump flow mechanism and compress the pressurized bulb pump flow mechanism at predetermined intervals,
• the tubing comprising the first portion, a second portion connecting the pressurized bulb pump flow mechanism to the first portion, a third portion connecting the first portion to a fluid reservoir, and a fourth portion connecting the fluid reservoir to the pressurized bulb pump flow mechanism, and
• the system further comprising:
• an outlet pressure choke disposed on the third portion of the tubing, the outlet pressure choke being configured to dynamically control and manipulate the PPG waveforms sensed by the optical sensor;
• a first one-way valve disposed on the second portion of the tubing and configured to allow the BMF to flow from the pressurized bulb pump flow mechanism to the first portion of the tubing embedded in the phantom body part model;
• a second one-way valve disposed on the third portion of the tubing and configured to allow the BMF to flow from the first portion of the tubing embedded in the phantom body part model to the fluid reservoir;
• and
• a third one-way valve disposed on the fourth portion of the tubing and configured to allow the BMF to flow from the fluid reservoir to the pressurized bulb pump flow mechanism.