Patient-Specific Computational Simulation of the Mitral Valve Function Using Three-Dimensional Echocardiography

Abnormal mitral valve (MV) morphology may lead to high stress generation. Computational simulation of the MV apparatus may help us better understand and characterize the biomechanics and physiology of MV function and disease-related alterations. The MV apparatus geometry was identified using three-dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiographic (TEE) patient data. These data were converted into a 3D computational MV model. Computational simulation of the MV function was performed using finite element analysis with an experimentally-determined material model. Functional and morphological characteristics were evaluated and compared to the 3D TEE data. The MV simulation demonstrated the complex 3D MV shape with good agreement to 3D TEE, and determined regions of stress concentration in the MV components. Asymmetric stress distribution was clearly displayed on the MV leaflets indicating realistic and physiologic alteration of MV morphology and function. This novel computational simulation strategy may provide a powerful tool for patientspecific structural evaluation of the MV.