3D Coronary Flow Simulation for Noninvasive FFR Assessment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current diagnostic methods for coronary artery disease, such as CCTA and CCA, fail to provide accurate functional assessment of coronary lesions, leading to unnecessary invasive procedures and high healthcare costs due to the inability to determine the functional significance of lesions without invasive pressure wire measurements.

Innovation Solution

A computer-based system and method for creating patient-specific three-dimensional models of the heart to simulate blood flow and determine fractional flow reserve (FFR) noninvasively, using patient-specific data to assess the functional significance of coronary lesions and predict the impact of interventions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If conventional coronary angiography (CCA) is used to visualize coronary lesions, then anatomic data on size and shape of arteries is obtained, but functional significance of lesions cannot be assessed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional significance informationVSAvoidinvasive procedure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces computational fluid dynamics simulation as an intermediary between CCA imaging and functional assessment. The simulation acts as a mediator that translates anatomical data from CCA into functional information (blood flow, pressure, FFR) without requiring actual invasive pressure wire measurements, thus resolving the contradiction between obtaining functional information and avoiding invasive complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the coronary artery system using three-dimensional modeling from CCA data. This digital replica allows functional simulation and assessment without needing to perform actual invasive procedures on the patient, enabling functional significance evaluation while avoiding the complexity and risks of invasive diagnostics

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If invasive pressure wire measurements are performed to determine FFR, then functional significance of lesions is accurately assessed, but invasive procedure risks and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveFFR measurement accuracyVSAvoidinvasive procedure risks

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual replica of the coronary system that allows FFR measurement through computational simulation rather than physical wire insertion. This digital copy provides functional assessment data without exposing the patient to invasive risks, maintaining measurement capability while eliminating harmful factors

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical invasive pressure wire measurement system with a computational fluid dynamics simulation system. The simulation uses numerical methods to calculate pressure and flow characteristics, substituting physical intrusion with mathematical modeling to achieve the same diagnostic goal without invasive risks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If CCTA is used for noninvasive imaging of coronary arteries, then anatomic visualization is achieved, but functional significance and blood flow assessment remain unavailable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoninvasive imaging capabilityVSAvoidblood flow and pressure data

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges CCTA imaging data with computational fluid dynamics simulation in an integrated diagnostic system. The anatomical information from noninvasive CCTA is combined with hemodynamic modeling to produce both structural visualization and functional assessment (blood flow, pressure, FFR) from a single noninvasive workflow, eliminating the need for separate invasive procedures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Loss of information

If diagnostic catheterization is performed to assess coronary lesions, then direct visualization is obtained, but unnecessary operations may result due to inability to assess functional significance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelesion functional significanceVSAvoidhealthcare costs

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent provides functional significance feedback from noninvasive simulation data that guides treatment decision-making. By delivering FFR and blood flow assessment information before intervention, the system enables clinicians to distinguish between functionally significant and insignificant lesions, preventing unnecessary operations and reducing healthcare costs through informed decision-making

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20260076748A1Systems and method for performing particle-based simulation of fluid flow

Publication Date: 2026.03.19 HEARTFLOW INC

AI summary

Embodiments include a system for determining cardiovascular information for a patient. The system may include at least one computer system configured to receive patient-specific data regarding a geometry of the patient's heart, and create a three-dimensional model representing at least a portion of the patient's heart based on the patient-specific data. The at least one computer system may be further configured to create a physics-based model relating to a blood flow characteristic of the patient's heart and determine a fractional flow reserve within the patient's heart based on the three-dimensional model and the physics-based model.