Method and system for patient-specific modeling of blood flow

Abstract

Embodiments include a system for determining cardiovascular information for a patient. The system may include at least one computer system configured to receive patient-specific data regarding a geometry of the patient's heart, and create a three-dimensional model representing at least a portion of the patient's heart based on the patient-specific data. The at least one computer system may be further configured to create a physics-based model relating to a blood flow characteristic of the patient's heart and determine a fractional flow reserve within the patient's heart based on the three-dimensional model and the physics-based model.

1 - 184 . (canceled) 
     
     
         185 . A computer-implemented method for determining patient-specific cardiovascular information using at least one computer system, the method comprising:
 receiving, at the at least one computer system, a patient-specific geometric model of at least a portion of a coronary artery and at least a portion of myocardial tissue connected to the portion of the coronary artery of the patient;   simulating perfusion through at least the portion of the myocardial tissue based on the patient-specific geometric model, using the at least one computer system;   receiving, at the at least one computer system, a patient-specific measure of perfusion through at least the portion of the myocardial tissue of the patient;   comparing, using the at least one computer system, the simulated perfusion to the patient-specific measure of perfusion through the portion of the myocardial tissue; and   modifying a parameter or geometry of the patient-specific geometric model if the simulated perfusion is outside a predetermined threshold from the patient-specific measure of perfusion through the portion of the myocardial tissue of the patient.   
     
     
         186 . The method of  claim 185 , further comprising:
 extending, using the at least one computer system, the patient-specific geometric model to form an augmented model by extending at least one of the coronary arteries included in the patient-specific geometric model;   dividing the at least one portion of the augmented model by dividing an extended portion of the at least one coronary artery into segments; and   associating the patient-specific measure of perfusion with at least one of the segments of the extended portion.   
     
     
         187 . The method of  claim 186 , wherein:
 extending the patient-specific geometric model includes creating additional branches of arteries connected to at least one of the arteries included in the patient-specific geometric model;   dividing the at least one portion of the augmented model includes dividing at least one of the additional branches into segments; and   the perfusion information is associated with at least one of the segments of the at least one additional branch.   
     
     
         188 . The method of  claim 186 , further comprising determining a size of the at least one segment based on a size of at least one of the arteries connected to the at least one segment. 
     
     
         189 . The method of  claim 186 , further comprising determining a size of the segments based on sizes of a plurality of neighboring arteries connected to the respective segments. 
     
     
         190 . The method of  claim 186 , wherein:
 the patient-specific geometric model is extended such that at least one coronary artery of the plurality of coronary arteries included in the patient-specific geometric model is extended along or within the myocardial tissue.   
     
     
         191 . The method of  claim 186 , wherein:
 extending the patient-specific geometric model includes extending at least one of the coronary arteries included in the patient-specific geometric model or creating additional branches of arteries connected to at least one of the arteries included in the patient-specific geometric model;   the patient-specific geometric model is extended until a desired size of the at least one extended artery or the additional branches is obtained; and   at least the portion of the augmented model representing the myocardial tissue is divided until a desired segment size is obtained.   
     
     
         192 . The method of  claim 191 , wherein:
 the patient-specific geometric model is generated based on imaging data; and   the desired size of the at least one extended artery and the desired segment size depend on a resolution of the imaging data.   
     
     
         193 . The method of  claim 186 , wherein the augmented model includes at least a portion of a coronary arterial tree on an epicardial surface. 
     
     
         194 . A computer system for evaluating cardiovascular treatment options for a patient, the computer system comprising:
 a digital storage device storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the computer system to perform a method for evaluating cardiovascular treatment options for a patient; and   a processor configured to execute the instructions to perform the method for evaluating cardiovascular treatment options for a patient, the method comprising:   receiving, at the at least one computer system, a patient-specific geometric model of at least a portion of a coronary artery and at least a portion of myocardial tissue connected to the portion of the coronary artery of the patient;   simulating perfusion through at least the portion of the myocardial tissue based on the patient-specific geometric model, using the at least one computer system;   receiving, at the at least one computer system, a patient-specific measure of perfusion through at least the portion of the myocardial tissue of the patient;   comparing, using the at least one computer system, the simulated perfusion to the patient-specific measure of perfusion through the portion of the myocardial tissue; and   modifying a parameter or geometry of the patient-specific geometric model if the simulated perfusion is outside a predetermined threshold from the patient-specific measure of perfusion through the portion of the myocardial tissue of the patient.   
     
     
         195 . The computer system of  claim 194 , wherein the processor is further configured for:
 extending, using the at least one computer system, the patient-specific geometric model to form an augmented model by extending at least one of the coronary arteries included in the patient-specific geometric model;   dividing the at least one portion of the augmented model by dividing an extended portion of the at least one coronary artery into segments; and   associating the patient-specific measure of perfusion with at least one of the segments of the extended portion.   
     
     
         196 . The computer system of  claim 195 , wherein:
 extending the patient-specific geometric model includes creating additional branches of arteries connected to at least one of the arteries included in the patient-specific geometric model;   dividing the at least one portion of the augmented model includes dividing at least one of the additional branches into segments; and   the perfusion information is associated with at least one of the segments of the at least one additional branch.   
     
     
         197 . The computer system of  claim 195 , wherein the processor is further configured for determining a size of the at least one segment based on a size of at least one of the arteries connected to the at least one segment. 
     
     
         198 . The computer system of  claim 195 , wherein the processor is further configured for determining a size of the segments based on sizes of a plurality of neighboring arteries connected to the respective segments. 
     
     
         199 . The computer system of  claim 195 , wherein:
 the patient-specific geometric model is extended such that at least one coronary artery of the plurality of coronary arteries included in the patient-specific geometric model is extended along or within the myocardial tissue.   
     
     
         200 . The computer system of  claim 195 , wherein:
 extending the patient-specific geometric model includes extending at least one of the coronary arteries included in the patient-specific geometric model or creating additional branches of arteries connected to at least one of the arteries included in the patient-specific geometric model;   the patient-specific geometric model is extended until a desired size of the at least one extended artery or the additional branches is obtained; and   at least the portion of the augmented model representing the myocardial tissue is divided until a desired segment size is obtained.   
     
     
         201 . The computer system of  claim 200 , wherein:
 the patient-specific geometric model is generated based on imaging data; and   the desired size of the at least one extended artery and the desired segment size depend on a resolution of the imaging data.   
     
     
         202 . The computer system of  claim 195 , wherein the augmented model includes at least a portion of a coronary arterial tree on an epicardial surface. 
     
     
         203 . A computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program comprising instructions, which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method for determining patient-specific cardiovascular information using at least one computer system, the method comprising:
 receiving, at the at least one computer system, a patient-specific geometric model of at least a portion of a coronary artery and at least a portion of myocardial tissue connected to the portion of the coronary artery of the patient;   simulating perfusion through at least the portion of the myocardial tissue based on the patient-specific geometric model, using the at least one computer system;   receiving, at the at least one computer system, a patient-specific measure of perfusion through at least the portion of the myocardial tissue of the patient;   comparing, using the at least one computer system, the simulated perfusion to the patient-specific measure of perfusion through the portion of the myocardial tissue; and   modifying a parameter or geometry of the patient-specific geometric model if the simulated perfusion is outside a predetermined threshold from the patient-specific measure of perfusion through the portion of the myocardial tissue of the patient.   
     
     
         204 . The method of  claim 203 , further comprising:
 extending, using the at least one computer system, the patient-specific geometric model to form an augmented model by extending at least one of the coronary arteries included in the patient-specific geometric model;   dividing the at least one portion of the augmented model by dividing an extended portion of the at least one coronary artery into segments; and   associating the patient-specific measure of perfusion with at least one of the segments of the extended portion.