Patient-Specific Heart Modeling via Navier-Stokes Simulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical imaging technologies struggle to accurately model the heart's anatomy, dynamics, and hemodynamics due to limitations in understanding and interpreting 4D medical image data, leading to inadequate patient-specific parameter estimation and disease progression modeling, which hampers diagnosis and treatment decisions in cardiac diseases.
Innovation Solution
A comprehensive patient-specific modeling method that generates a 4D anatomical model of the heart from 4D medical image data, using a 3D Navier-Stokes solver to simulate blood flow and fluid structure interactions, constrained by the heart's anatomy, allowing for iterative deformation and simulation of blood flow over the heart cycle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If 4D medical image data is acquired with high temporal-spatial resolution, then the amount of morphological and functional image data is large, but the capability to understand and interpret the data is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces comprehensive patient-specific modeling as an intermediary layer between 4D medical image data acquisition and clinical interpretation. The model integrates multiple imaging modalities (CT, MR, rotational X-ray, Ultrasound) and transforms raw image data into synthesized anatomical, dynamic, and hemodynamic parameters that are more easily interpreted by physicians, thereby bridging the gap between high-resolution data acquisition and data understanding capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional manual measurement and interpretation methods with automated computational modeling. The comprehensive patient-specific model uses algorithms to automatically extract anatomical parameters, simulate cardiac dynamics, and calculate hemodynamic properties from 4D image data, substituting the insufficient human data understanding capability with computational analysis
2Measurement precision
If patient-specific parameters are estimated accurately, then diagnosis and treatment decisions are improved, but the complexity of modeling increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the comprehensive modeling process into distinct modular components: anatomical model generation from imaging data, dynamic model for cardiac cycle simulation, and hemodynamic model for blood flow analysis. Each module handles specific aspects of parameter estimation independently, reducing overall modeling complexity while maintaining accuracy through systematic decomposition of the estimation problem
Solution Approach 2:
The comprehensive patient-specific model serves multiple functions simultaneously: it generates anatomical parameters, simulates cardiac dynamics, calculates hemodynamic properties, and supports both diagnosis and treatment planning. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate modeling approaches for different clinical questions, managing complexity through a unified framework
3Reliability
If disease progression models are developed, then cardiovascular disease management is improved, but the computational requirements and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-computing and storing patient-specific anatomical and hemodynamic parameters in a comprehensive model before clinical decision-making is required. The model is built once from 4D imaging data and can then be used repeatedly for different diagnostic and treatment planning scenarios, reducing computational time for each specific clinical question while maintaining reliable disease progression modeling capability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables precise non-invasive assessment, diagnosis, and virtual therapy planning, improving cardiovascular disease management by providing accurate anatomical, dynamic, and hemodynamic parameters, enhancing the understanding and simulation of heart functions and diseases.
Implementation Method 1
Blood flow in the heart is then simulated by solving Navier-Stokes equations constrained by the patient-specific 4D anatomical model at each of a plurality of time steps in a heart cycle
Implementation Method 2
using a level set framework
Implementation Method 3
Fluid structure interactions are determined iteratively over the heart cycle by simulating the blood flow at a given time step and calculating the deformation of the heart structure based on the simulated blood flow
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for patient-specific modeling of the whole heart anatomy, dynamics, hemodynamics, and fluid structure interaction from 4D medical image data is disclosed. The anatomy and dynamics of the heart are determined by estimating patient-specific parameters of a physiological model of the heart from the 4D medical image data for a patient. The patient-specific anatomy and dynamics are used as input to a 3D Navier-Stokes solver that derives realistic hemodynamics, constrained by the local anatomy, along the entire heart cycle. Fluid structure interactions are determined iteratively over the heart cycle by simulating the blood flow at a given time step and calculating the deformation of the heart structure based on the simulated blood flow, such that the deformation of the heart structure is used in the simulation of the blood flow at the next time step. The comprehensive patient-specific model of the heart representing anatomy, dynamics, hemodynamics, and fluid structure interaction can be used for non-invasive assessment and diagnosis of the heart, as well as virtual therapy planning and cardiovascular disease management. Parameters of the comprehensive patient-specific model are changed or perturbed to simulate various conditions or treatment options, and then the patient specific model is recalculated to predict the effect of the conditions or treatment options.