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Patient-Specific Mathematical Models of the Heart for Simulation-Based Medical Planning

We have developed the first subject-specific model of the human heart. To accomplish this, we created a process by which patient-specific geometries of the heart may be produced. The process has several stages—data acquisition, segmentation, segmentation editing, mesh generation, finite element analysis, NURBS generation, and NURBS analysis—each of which can be carried out with a number of different methods. In addition, we have instantiated the mathematical model in the form of a three-dimensional solid which was constructed by rapid prototyping technology. In what follows, we will examine the major methods we have considered, and describe their characteristics with respect to alternatives. We produced a highly detailed, accurate, tangible representation of a living human heart. (See Figure 1.) The subject-specific model illustrates several commonplace, but significant, variations in the heart: the subject modeled has only one right pulmonary vein entering the heart, while most people have two smaller ones. Also visible are the coronary arteries, which do not follow the usual pattern found on educational models, but rather follow a normal variation. Minor variations in geometry—present in every human, and which change over time—have a deep influence on the dynamics of the system. A main focus of the current research is to provide a medical professional with a detailed geometry that accurately depicts the nuances of a patient-specific heart. This geometry will enable precise predictions of the heart’s behavior. Current technology allows only general predictions at best. Next steps with the project are to improve segmentation methods (segmentation will be a long-term topic of research), to solicit the comments and analysis of collaborators and interested parties—in particular, A. Tvieto, X. Wang, W. K. Liu, T. E. Tezduyar, C. S. Peskin, and S. Flamm, M.D.—and, most importantly, to incorporate the feedback received.