A computational method for developing hierarchical large deformation viscoelastic models of the contracting heart

Area of Science:

• Computational Biology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Cardiac Mechanics

Background:

• Accurate computational modeling of cardiac function is crucial for understanding heart diseases.
• Existing models may lack the granularity to represent complex cardiac pathologies effectively.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a new computational method for modeling dynamic heart contraction.
• To demonstrate the feasibility of this method in simulating cardiac tissue behavior and pathologies.

Main Methods:

• Developed a computational framework constructing the cardiac wall from basic contractile units (myocardial units and collagen).
• Incorporated individual parameters for each unit, including orientation, passive/active behavior, and stimulation propagation.
• Validated the method using 2D cross-sections and simplified 3D geometries, including scar and myopathic tissue simulations.

Main Results:

• Successfully modeled dynamic heart contraction using the new computational method.
• Simulations in 2D and 3D geometries showed results consistent with established physiological data.
• The method effectively simulated the effects of non-contractile scar and myopathic tissue.

Conclusions:

• The developed computational method provides a versatile tool for modeling cardiac mechanics.
• It holds significant promise for simulating complex heart pathologies like myocardial infarcts and conduction abnormalities.
• This approach facilitates the study of spatial distributions of abnormal mechanical and electrical properties in cardiac tissue.