3D-CFD and Lumped Hemodynamic Modeling for Atrial Fibrillation Progression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional CFD models for atrial fibrillation (AF) fail to adequately model the effect of AF on cardiovascular systems and do not consider hemodynamic metrics, particularly in relation to left atrial dynamics, which are crucial for predicting thromboembolic events.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize a 3D-CFD model and a zero-dimensional lumped cardiovascular hemodynamic model to analyze AF progression by generating cardiovascular parameters, including LA and LV dynamics, and calculating LA hemodynamic metrics such as wall shear stress, oscillatory shear index, and endothelial cell activation potential, using medical scan images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional CFD models are used for AF analysis, then the model complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but the measurement precision of hemodynamic metrics and the reliability of thromboembolic event prediction deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The cardiovascular system is segmented into multiple zero-dimensional lumped parameter models representing different vascular beds (systemic arteries, pulmonary arteries, coronary arteries, etc.), allowing complex hemodynamic analysis to be broken down into manageable components while maintaining high measurement precision for each segment
Solution Approach 2:
A rhythm generator module acts as an intermediary component that provides standardized cardiac rhythm inputs to the CFD model, enabling systematic analysis of different AF conditions without requiring complex manual input setup, thus improving both ease of manufacture and measurement precision
2Device complexity
If conventional CFD models with simple motion models are used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of predicting thromboembolic events deteriorates due to inadequate LA dynamics modeling
Solution Approach 1:
The zero-dimensional lumped parameter model serves multiple functions simultaneously: it models pressure-flow dynamics in various vascular beds, captures LA and LV dynamics, and provides boundary conditions for the CFD model, thereby improving reliability without proportionally increasing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The model incorporates variable compliance parameters for the left atrium and left ventricle that can be adjusted to represent different physiological states and AF conditions, enabling reliable prediction of thromboembolic events through parameter optimization rather than complex structural changes
3Reliability
If comprehensive hemodynamic analysis with multiple cardiovascular parameters is performed, then the reliability of AF progression understanding is improved, but the loss of computational time and energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rhythm generator dynamically adjusts cardiac rhythm parameters to simulate different AF conditions (normal sinus rhythm, HF-AF, LA remodeled AF), allowing comprehensive hemodynamic analysis across multiple scenarios without requiring separate static models for each condition, thus improving reliability while managing computational time
Solution Approach 2:
The model employs periodic cardiac cycles with characteristic timing patterns for different rhythm conditions, enabling efficient computation through repeated periodic solutions rather than continuous transient analysis, reducing computational time while maintaining analysis reliability
4Measurement precision
If detailed 3D-CFD modeling with high density meshes is implemented, then the measurement precision of wall shear stress metrics is improved, but the device complexity and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The approach combines zero-dimensional lumped parameter modeling (temporal dimension) with three-dimensional CFD spatial modeling, creating a multi-scale model that achieves high measurement precision for wall shear stress metrics while managing complexity through dimensional decomposition of the cardiovascular system
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method and system for determining progression of atrial fibrillation (AF) based on hemodynamic metrics. In conventional CFD models, effect of the AF on a cardiovascular system is not modeled and evaluation of associated hemodynamic metrics and its effect on a Left Atrium (LA) dynamics is not considered. The method and system for determining progression of the AF based on the hemodynamic metrics, analyzes the effect of the AF on cardiovascular parameters of the LA and a left Ventricle (LV), for AF variations. A 3D-CFD model is modelled from a plurality of scan images of a heart of a subject and the AF variations are incorporated in a zero-dimensional (OD) lumped cardiovascular hemodynamic model along with a novel rhythm generator that are used for extracting a plurality of LA hemodynamic metrics of wall shear stress (WSS) that are possible indicators for progression of the AF.