An Approach to an Analysis of the Arterial Pulse Wave I. Oscillations in an Attenuating Line

Abstract

The Telegraph equations have been used to obtain expressions for the following quantities in an attenuating electric transmission line: 1. the input impedance in terms of the length of an open-circuited line, 2. the modulus of the voltage as a function of the distance along an open-circuited line, 3. the ` apparent phase velocity at a point ' along a line, as a function of the distance from the origin and the nature of the termination, 4. the ` apparent phase velocity over a finite interval ' for the same type of line, 5. the modulus of the reflection coefficient in terms of (4). Numerical examples have been computed for (1)-(4) and are presented. The use of the attenuating electric line as a model in approaching an understanding of the dynamics of the arterial circulation is outlined, and the limitations discussed.