Impact of weightlessness on dynamic deformation and haemodynamic parameters of the heart

Cardiovascular disease remains an important challenge for human space travel, it is particularly important for astronaut health to accurately simulate cardiac conditions in weightless environments. In this study, a coupled flow-solid model of the left ventricular (LV) and mitral valve (MV) is developed by the immersed boundary/finite element (IB/FE) method, and the boundary conditions of the model were determined from the relationship between gravitational level, LV sphericity and LV end-diastolic pressure. Based on this model, the dynamic deformation and haemodynamic parameters of the LV and the MV are investigated in different gravitational environments, such as Zero Gravity, the Moon (0.167 g), the Mars (0.38 g) and the Earth. The validity and accuracy of the model is verified by comparing the Zero Gravity simulation results with the real data obtained from the space flight experiment. The prediction results of the model can provide some references on how to combat the adverse effects of weightlessness during spaceflight.