Open Access

ARTICLE

Effect of Patch Mechanical Properties on Right Ventricle Function Using MRI-Based Two-Layer AnisotropicModels of Human Right and Left Ventricles

by Dalin Tang¹, Chun Yang¹, Tal Geva³, Pedro J. del Nido⁵

1 Corresponding author, dtang@wpi.edu, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, MA 01609, USA
2 School of Mathematical Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Laboratory of Mathematics and Complex Systems, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
3 Department of Cardiology, Children’s Hospital, Boston, Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School Boston, MA 02115 USA
4 Department of Biomedical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, MA 01609, USA
5 Dept. of Cardiac Surgery, Children’s Hospital, Boston, Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115 USA

Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences 2010, 56(2), 113-130. https://doi.org/10.3970/cmes.2010.056.113

Abstract

Right and left ventricle (RV/LV) combination models with three different patch materials (Dacron scaffold, treated pericardium, and contracting myocardium), two-layer construction, fiber orientation, and active anisotropic material properties were introduced to evaluate the effects of patch materials on RV function. A material-stiffening approach was used to model active heart contraction. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging was performed to acquire patient-specific ventricular geometries and cardiac motion from a patient with severe RV dilatation due to pulmonary regurgitation needing RV remodeling and pulmonary valve replacement operation. Computational models were constructed and solved to obtain RV stroke volume, ejection fraction, patch area variations, and stress/strain data for patch comparisons. Our results indicate that the patch model with contracting myocardium leads to decreased stress level in the patch area, improved RV function and patch area contractility. Maximum Stress-P1(maximum principal stress) value at the center of the patch from the Dacron scaffold patch model was 350% higher than that from the other two models. Patch area reduction ratio was 0.3%, 3.1% and 27.4% for Dacron scaffold, pericardium, and contracting myocardium patches, respectively. These findings suggest that the contracting myocardium patch model may lead to improved recovery of RV function in patients with severe chronic pulmonary regurgitation.

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