Semi-Automated Construction of Patient-Specific Aortic Valves from Computed Tomography Images

Authors

Dan Lior
Charles Puelz
Colin Edwards
Silvana Molossi
Boyce E Griffith
Ravi K Birla
Craig G Rusin

Publication Date

1-1-2023

Journal

Annals of Biomedical Engineering

DOI

10.1007/s10439-022-03075-z

PMID

36209266

PMCID

PMC10682914

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

11-28-2023

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Author MSS

Published Open-Access

yes

Keywords

Humans, Child, Aortic Valve, Models, Cardiovascular, Computer Simulation, Tomography, X-Ray Computed, Computed Tomography Angiography, Aortic valve, Anatomical reconstruction, Fluid–structure interaction, Computed tomography, Immersed finite element/difference method

Abstract

This paper presents a semi-automatic method for the construction of volumetric models of the aortic valve using computed tomography angiography images. Although the aortic valve typically cannot be segmented directly from a computed tomography angiography image, the method described herein uses manually selected samples of an aortic segmentation derived from this image to inform the construction. These samples capture certain physiologic landmarks and are used to construct a volumetric valve model. As a demonstration of the capabilities of this method, valve models for 25 pediatric patients are created. A selected valve anatomy is used to perform fluid-structure interaction simulations using the immersed finite element/difference method with physiologic driving and loading conditions. Simulation results demonstrate this method creates a functional valve that opens and closes normally and generates pressure and flow waveforms that are similar to those observed clinically.