Simulation of left ventricle fluid dynamics with mitral regurgitation from magnetic resonance images with fictitious elastic structure regularization

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel image-driven computational model for simulating left ventricle fluid dynamics, incorporating elastic structure regularization and various mitral valve models, including regurgitation, based on cardiac MRI data.

Contribution

It presents a new approach combining MRI-based ventricular motion modeling with elastic structure regularization and multiple mitral valve models, including regurgitation, for improved cardiac fluid dynamics simulation.

Findings

Successfully models ventricular motion from MRI data.

Incorporates mitral regurgitation in simulations.

Provides a seamless treatment of isovolumic phases.

Abstract

Computer modeling can provide quantitative insight into cardiac fluid dynamics phenomena that are not evident from standard imaging tools. We propose a new approach to modeling left ventricle fluid dynamics based on an image-driven model-based description of ventricular motion. In this approach, the end-diastolic geometry and time-dependent deformation of the left ventricle cavity are obtained from cardiac magnetic resonance images and a fictitious elastic structure is used to impose the contractile behavior of the left ventricle. This allows seamless treatment of the isovolumic phases. Besides the ventricular motion, the intracavitary fluid dynamics is controlled by the mitral valve. Three different mitral valve models are included in the simulation: an idealized diode (with or without regurgitation) and a lumped parameter model accounting for the opening dynamics of the valve and including regurgitation.