The biological regulatory system is opened by cutting at two points in the loop, and the external artificial system is connected between the two cut ends of the biological system. Thus a new control system whose overall characteristics is artificially modificable, may be constructed. Three series of the experiments using rabbit as experimental animal were undertaken.
1) The system of blood pressure regulation by carotid sinus was opened by cutting the connection between the systemic blood pressure,
PB (
t), and intrasinual pressure,
PC (
t), and is controlled by artificial system so as to maintain the required relationship :
PC (
t) =
f {
PB (
t)} using computer, automatic control system and other devices. Because the original biological system has sufficiently large gain-and phase-margins, the loop gain can be much increased without the occurrence of unstability. The marked improvement of control characteristics was indicated by the increase of loop gain. If the system has a comparatively large delay characteristics, e. g. dead time is given by the insertion of dead time generator, the system falls into unstable state, hunting, and the undulative change in blood pressure was produced.
2) The system of blood pressure regulation via depressor nerve was examined. In this case the nerve was cut and stimulated with electric pulses the frequency of which was modulated by
f {
PB (
t)}. The improvement of control characteristics as well as undulative change in blood pressure were observed as shown in the first series experiment.
3) The system of regulation of respiratory movement via vagus nerve was modified.The vagus was cut, and its central cut end was stimulated by electric pulses the frequency of which was modulated by the required function of lung volume. The respiratory frequency was easily controlled, and the respiration thus produced (“electrovagal respiration” named by the author) was sustainable against severe disturbances. The electrovagal respiration may be used as an artificial respiration which is most physiological and most effective.
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