Left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction often precedes systolic dysfimction. Hence, the assessment of LV diastolic function is imperative for the early diagnosis of the disease, and this phase of the cardiac cycle has not been adequately analyzed. Thus, this study aims to develop a model of LV diastolic performance, in terms of LV compliance, resistance-to-filling and inertia, which are the indices of LV-pump's filling performance or behavior. Therefrom, we have developed a novel

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... se index (FLI) as well as the diastolic pressure-time profile and provided the basis of their noninvasive determination. By evaluating the range of FLI, it is possible to differentially diagnose diastolic dysfunction.