A Parametric Model of the Mitral Valve for Finite Element Patient-Specific Simulations

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Computational Mechanics
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Finite element models (FEM) offer predictive capabilities for mitral valve surgical planning.
• Integrating FEM into clinical workflows requires models derived from routine diagnostic procedures.
• Existing methods may lack efficiency or patient-specificity for seamless clinical adoption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a rapid, patient-specific finite element model of the mitral valve suitable for clinical applications.
• To create a parametric geometry using routinely acquired diagnostic measurements.
• To minimize computational cost through simplified material and boundary conditions.

Main Methods:

• Developed a parametric geometry generation method from standard diagnostic measurements.
• Implemented simplifications in material properties and boundary conditions to reduce computational load.
• Validated the healthy mitral valve model against clinical ultrasound images from diastole to systole.

Main Results:

• A rapid, patient-specific finite element model of the mitral valve was successfully developed.
• The model demonstrated good conformity with ultrasound images, validating its accuracy despite simplifications.
• The approach maintains a low computational cost, enhancing clinical feasibility.

Conclusions:

• The developed methodology provides a viable approach for creating patient-specific mitral valve FEMs.
• This work serves as a foundation for a clinical digital twin of the mitral valve.
• The integration of engineering principles with medical processes can enhance surgical planning and patient care.