Multi-scale Coronary Circulation Modeling for Stenosis Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current diagnostic and intervention planning for coronary artery disease lack accurate, patient-specific multi-scale models that incorporate anatomical, hemodynamic, and cellular information, leading to underestimation or overestimation of coronary stenosis severity and inefficiencies in treatment planning.
Innovation Solution
Development of patient-specific multi-scale computational models that integrate comprehensive anatomical, hemodynamic, and cellular phenomena, using full-order and reduced-order models to simulate blood flow and intervene virtually through stenting, angioplasty, and CABG, reducing computational complexity and improving predictive power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If comprehensive multi-scale models incorporating anatomical, hemodynamic, and cellular information are developed, then measurement precision and predictive power are improved, but device complexity and computational demands increase
Solution Approach 1:
The computational model is divided into multiple scales: whole-organ level (coronary circulation), tissue level (myocardium), and cellular level (cardiomyocytes). Each scale is modeled separately with appropriate complexity, allowing accurate multi-scale integration without overwhelming computational demands. The segmentation enables selective application of detailed models only where necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent integrates information across multiple spatial and temporal scales simultaneously, adding dimensions of analysis rather than increasing complexity within a single scale. By modeling anatomical structure, hemodynamic flow, and cellular metabolism in separate but coupled frameworks, the system achieves comprehensive precision without proportional increases in overall computational burden.
2Measurement precision
If full-order computational models are used for blood flow simulation, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity and computational efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than applying full-order computational fluid dynamics throughout the entire coronary circulation, the patent uses simplified hemodynamic models for most vessels and reserves detailed full-order simulations only for critical regions such as stenotic segments. This partial application of high-fidelity modeling achieves necessary precision while maintaining computational efficiency for clinical applications.
3Measurement precision
If patient-specific multi-scale models are developed for accurate diagnosis, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation and accessibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The computational modeling system is designed to automatically extract anatomical geometry from standard clinical images (CT, MRI, angiography), automatically segment vessels, and automatically generate multi-scale models without requiring manual intervention. The system self-calibrates parameters and performs simulations autonomously, making complex patient-specific modeling as easy to operate as standard imaging interpretation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and system for multi-scale anatomical and functional modeling of coronary circulation is disclosed. A patient-specific anatomical model of coronary arteries and the heart is generated from medical image data of a patient. A multi-scale functional model of coronary circulation is generated based on the patient-specific anatomical model. Blood flow is simulated in at least one stenosis region of at least one coronary artery using the multi-scale function model of coronary circulation. Hemodynamic quantities, such as fractional flow reserve (FFR), are computed to determine a functional assessment of the stenosis, and virtual intervention simulations are performed using the multi-scale function model of coronary circulation for decision support and intervention planning.