High-resolution subject-specific mitral valve imaging and modeling: experimental and computational methods.
The diversity of mitral valve (MV) geometries and multitude of surgical options for correction of MV diseases necessitates the use of computational modeling. Numerical simulations of the MV would allow surgeons and engineers to evaluate repairs, devices, procedures, and concepts before performing them and before moving on to more costly testing modalities. Constructing, tuning, and validating these models rely upon extensive in vitro characterization of valve structure, function, and response to change due to diseases. Micro-computed tomography ([Formula: see text]CT) allows for unmatched spatial resolution for soft tissue imaging. However, it is still technically challenging to obtain an accurate geometry of the diastolic MV. We discuss here the development of a novel technique for treating MV specimens with glutaraldehyde fixative in order to minimize geometric distortions in preparation for [Formula: see text]CT scanning. The technique provides a resulting MV geometry which is significantly more detailed in chordal structure, accurate in leaflet shape, and closer to its physiological diastolic geometry. In this paper, computational fluid-structure interaction (FSI) simulations are used to show the importance of more detailed subject-specific MV geometry with 3D chordal structure to simulate a proper closure validated against [Formula: see text]CT images of the closed valve. Two computational models, before and after use of the aforementioned technique, are used to simulate closure of the MV.
Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Technology Enterprise Park, Suite 200, 387 Technology Circle, Atlanta, GA, 30313-2412, USA.
Milan
M
Toma
Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Technology Enterprise Park, Suite 200, 387 Technology Circle, Atlanta, GA, 30313-2412, USA.
Charles H
CH
Bloodworth
Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352, USA.
Daniel R
DR
Einstein
Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Technology Enterprise Park, Suite 200, 387 Technology Circle, Atlanta, GA, 30313-2412, USA.
Eric L
EL
Pierce
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maine, 219 Boardman Hall, Orono, ME, 04469-5711, USA.
Richard P
RP
Cochran
Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Technology Enterprise Park, Suite 200, 387 Technology Circle, Atlanta, GA, 30313-2412, USA.
Ajit P
AP
Yoganathan
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maine, 219 Boardman Hall, Orono, ME, 04469-5711, USA. kunzelka@superiorsurgicalsolutions.com.
Karyn S
KS
Kunzelman
D000818:Animals; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003971:Diastole; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D012756:Sheep; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography
Chordae tendineae; Chordal structure; Comprehensive computational model; Fixation; Fluid–structure interaction; Glutaraldehyde; Mitral valve; Smooth particle hydrodynamics