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 hemodynamic 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 the patient's vasculature and at least a portion of tissue connected to the portion of the patient's vasculature;   determining, using the at least one computer system, one or more values of a blood flow characteristic within one or more vessels in the portion of the patient's vasculature or the portion of tissue based on a simulation of blood flow through the patient-specific geometric model;   determining, using the at least one computer system, a perfusion risk index within at least the portion of the tissue based on the patient-specific geometric model and the one or more calculated values of the blood flow characteristic; and   storing a visual representation of the determined perfusion risk index on a representation of the patient-specific geometric model, using the computer system.   
     
     
         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 vessel of the portion of the patient's vasculature; and   associating the perfusion risk index with one or more locations in the extended portion of the augmented model.   
     
     
         187 . The method of  claim 186 , further comprising:
 generating the patient-specific geometric model based on imaging data; and   determining the size of the at least one extended vessel based on a resolution of the imaging data.   
     
     
         188 . The method of  claim 186 , wherein the augmented model includes at least a portion of a coronary arterial tree on an epicardial surface or at least a portion of a cerebral tree on a region of brain tissue. 
     
     
         189 . The method of  claim 185 , further comprising:
 modifying the patient-specific geometric model such that at least one vessel of the portion of the patient's vasculature included in the patient-specific geometric model is extended along or within the patient's myocardial tissue or cerebrum.   
     
     
         190 . The method of  claim 185 , further comprising:
 determining the perfusion risk index based on a plaque vulnerability index, a plaque size, or a size associated with the portion of the patient's vasculature.   
     
     
         191 . The method of  claim 185 , further comprising:
 extending at least one vessel of the portion of the patient's vasculature based on a size of at least one vessel in the portion of the patient's vasculature or a size of one or more neighboring vessels connected to the portion of the tissue.   
     
     
         192 . The method of  claim 185 , further comprising:
 determining, based on the perfusion risk index, a prediction of perfusion loss to a portion of tissue different from the at least the portion of the tissue connected to the portion of the patient's vasculature.   
     
     
         193 . The method of  claim 185 , wherein the perfusion risk index includes a myocardial perfusion risk index or a cerebral perfusion risk index. 
     
     
         194 . A computer system for determining patient-specific hemodynamic information, 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 determining patient-specific hemodynamic information; and   a processor configured to execute the instructions to perform the method for determining patient-specific hemodynamic information, the method comprising:
 receiving, at the at least one computer system, a patient-specific geometric model of at least a portion of the patient's vasculature and at least a portion of tissue connected to the portion of the patient's vasculature; 
 determining, using the at least one computer system, one or more values of a blood flow characteristic within one or more vessels in the portion of the patient's vasculature or the portion of tissue based on a simulation of blood flow through the patient-specific geometric model; 
 determining, using the at least one computer system, a perfusion risk index within at least the portion of the tissue based on the patient-specific geometric model and the one or more calculated values of the blood flow characteristic; and 
 storing a visual representation of the determined perfusion risk index on a representation of the patient-specific geometric model, using the computer system. 
   
     
     
         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 vessel of the portion of the patient's vasculature; and   associating the perfusion risk index with one or more locations in the extended portion of the augmented model.   
     
     
         196 . The computer system of  claim 195 , wherein the processor is further configured for:
 generating the patient-specific geometric model based on imaging data; and   determining the size of the at least one extended vessel based on a resolution of the imaging data.   
     
     
         197 . The computer system of  claim 195 , wherein the augmented model includes at least a portion of a coronary arterial tree on an epicardial surface or at least a portion of a cerebral tree on a region of brain tissue. 
     
     
         198 . The computer system of  claim 194 , wherein the processor is further configured for:
 modifying the patient-specific geometric model such that at least one vessel of the portion of the patient's vasculature included in the patient-specific geometric model is extended along or within the patient's myocardial tissue or cerebrum.   
     
     
         199 . The computer system of  claim 194 , wherein the processor is further configured for:
 determining the perfusion risk index based on a plaque vulnerability index, a plaque size, or a size associated with the portion of the patient's vasculature.   
     
     
         200 . The computer system of  claim 194 , wherein the processor is further configured for:
 extending at least one vessel of the portion of the patient's vasculature based on a size of at least one vessel in the portion of the patient's vasculature or a size of one or more neighboring vessels connected to the portion of the tissue.   
     
     
         201 . The computer system of  claim 194 , wherein the processor is further configured for:
 determining, based on the perfusion risk index, a prediction of perfusion loss to a portion of tissue different from the at least the portion of the tissue connected to the portion of the patient's vasculature.   
     
     
         202 . The computer system of  claim 194 , wherein the perfusion risk index includes a myocardial perfusion risk index or a cerebral perfusion risk index. 
     
     
         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 hemodynamic information, the method comprising:
 receiving, at the at least one computer system, a patient-specific geometric model of at least a portion of the patient's vasculature and at least a portion of tissue connected to the portion of the patient's vasculature;   determining, using the at least one computer system, one or more values of a blood flow characteristic within one or more vessels in the portion of the patient's vasculature or the portion of tissue based on a simulation of blood flow through the patient-specific geometric model;   determining, using the at least one computer system, a perfusion risk index within at least the portion of the tissue based on the patient-specific geometric model and the one or more calculated values of the blood flow characteristic; and   storing a visual representation of the determined perfusion risk index on a representation of the patient-specific geometric model, using the computer system.   
     
     
         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 vessel of the portion of the patient's vasculature; and   associating the perfusion risk index with one or more locations in the extended portion of the augmented model.