Electro-Mechanical Whole-Heart Digital Twins: A Fully Coupled Multi-Physics Approach

Tobias Gerach, Steffen Schuler, Jonathan Fröhlich, Laura Lindner, Ekaterina Kovacheva, Robin Moss, Eike Moritz Wülfers, Gunnar Seemann, Christian Wieners and Axel Loewe
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Tobias Gerach: Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
Steffen Schuler: Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
Jonathan Fröhlich: Institute of Applied and Numerical Mathematics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
Laura Lindner: Institute of Applied and Numerical Mathematics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
Ekaterina Kovacheva: Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
Robin Moss: Institute for Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, University Heart Center Freiburg · Bad Krozingen and Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
Eike Moritz Wülfers: Institute for Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, University Heart Center Freiburg · Bad Krozingen and Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
Gunnar Seemann: Institute for Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, University Heart Center Freiburg · Bad Krozingen and Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
Christian Wieners: Institute of Applied and Numerical Mathematics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
Axel Loewe: Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany

Mathematics, 2021, vol. 9, issue 11, 1-33

Abstract: Mathematical models of the human heart are evolving to become a cornerstone of precision medicine and support clinical decision making by providing a powerful tool to understand the mechanisms underlying pathophysiological conditions. In this study, we present a detailed mathematical description of a fully coupled multi-scale model of the human heart, including electrophysiology, mechanics, and a closed-loop model of circulation. State-of-the-art models based on human physiology are used to describe membrane kinetics, excitation-contraction coupling and active tension generation in the atria and the ventricles. Furthermore, we highlight ways to adapt this framework to patient specific measurements to build digital twins. The validity of the model is demonstrated through simulations on a personalized whole heart geometry based on magnetic resonance imaging data of a healthy volunteer. Additionally, the fully coupled model was employed to evaluate the effects of a typical atrial ablation scar on the cardiovascular system. With this work, we provide an adaptable multi-scale model that allows a comprehensive personalization from ion channels to the organ level enabling digital twin modeling.

Keywords: computational modeling; whole heart; electro-mechanic coupling; multi-physics; closed-loop circulation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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