Abstract:
A clinical image data driven mechanics analysis was used to quantify changes in tissue-specific passive and contractile material properties for groups of normal and HF patients. We have developed an automated mechanics modelling framework to firstly construct left ventricular (LV) mechanics models based on shape information derived from non-invasive dynamic magnetic resonance images, then to characterise passive tissue stiffness and maximum contractile stress by matching the simulated LV mechanics with data from the dynamic cardiac images. Preliminary statistical analysis revealed that patients with hypertrophy or non-ischemic heart failure exhibited increased passive myocardial stiffness compared to the normals. Elevated maximum contractile stress was also observed for hypertrophic patients. Tissue-specific parameter estimation analysis of this kind can potentially be applied in the clinical setting to provide a more specific disease measure to assist with stratification of HF patients. © 2013 Springer-Verlag.
