PhD project: Computer simulations of heart valves

The aim of Lea Christierson’s Ph.D. project is to develop a tool for planning interventions and surgeries on children born with congenital heart disease. Due to the complexity found in these kinds of heart diseases, it can be challenging to predict the surgical outcome. A simulation model has the potential to provide insight into the valve dynamics prior to and after valve repair and can thus give information on the valve repair outcome, guiding the clinicians in the choice of treatment. Based on 3D ultrasound imaging, the heart valve of the patient is digitized and inserted into the simulation model. The heart valve leaflets and blood flow are then modeled with Fluid-Structure interaction (FSI), using the patient-specific flow measurements and the material behavior of heart valve tissue.
The project started with a validation study of the accuracy of FSI models, based on comparisons against in vitro experiments. The study resulted in errors small enough to not affect the grading of heart valve disease diagnosis and is now further developed towards patient-specific geometries.