Computational Modeling Tools for Cardiovascular Disease Research, Surgical Planning and Diagnostics

This webinar of the VPHi Keynote Webinar Series took place on 11 May 2020 at 15 CET featuring Dr. Alberto Figueroa from University of Michigan, under the moderation of Ben Czaja, member of the VPHi Student Committee.

Abstract

Advances in numerical methods and three-dimensional imaging techniques have enabled the quantification of cardiovascular mechanics in subject-specific anatomic and physiologic models. Research efforts have been focused mainly on the following areas: i) pathogenesis of vascular disease, ii) development of medical devices, and iii) virtual surgical planning.

However, despite great initial promise, the actual use of patient-specific computer modelling in the clinic has been very limited. Clinical diagnosis still relies on traditional methods based on imaging and invasive measurements. The same invasive trial-and-error paradigm is often seen in vascular disease research, where animal models are used profusely to quantify simple metrics that could perhaps be evaluated via non-invasive computer modelling techniques. Lastly, medical device manufacturers rely mostly on in-vitro models to investigate the anatomic variations, arterial deformations, and biomechanical forces needed for the design of medical devices.

Dr.Figueroa's laboratory at University of Michigan has been developing an integrated image-based computer modelling framework for subject-specific cardiovascular simulation (CRIMSON) that can successfully bridge the gap between the research world and the clinic. The main features of the CRIMSON simulation environment are:

• A parallel blood flow solver with FSI and Multi-scale formulations for boundary conditions.
• A modern GUI for medical image data segmentation based on the Medical Imaging Interaction Toolkit (MITK).
• Libraries for automatic estimation of parameters required for boundary and material parameter specification. These parameter estimation routines are based on Kalman-filtering theory.
• Routines to enable the automatic simulation of transitional cardiovascular stages. These routines mimic the action of key cardiovascular functions such as the baroreflex, and local auto-regulations such as those in the coronary and cerebral circulations.
• Routines for automatic parameter estimation using filtering

In this talk, Dr.Figueroa will provide an overview of key current research areas in his group, including theory and applications, as well as the future vision to bring the use of computational tools to the clinic, specifically in the areas of diagnostics and surgical planning.

Dr. Alberto Figueroa 

Alberto received his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University in 2006. In 2011, he was appointed Associate Professor in Biomedical Engineering at King’s College London. He moved to the University of Michigan in 2014, where he is currently the Edward B. Diethrich M.D. Research Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Vascular Surgery. Dr. Figueroa’s main expertise is image-based simulation of hemodynamics. His doctoral work focused on developing techniques for fluid-structure interaction and multi-scale modeling for subject-specific cardiovascular simulations. Dr. Figueroa’s current research interests include: – Methods to predict the short-term response (auto-regulation) of the arterial system in response to changes in pressure and flow. – Pathophysiology and mechano-biology of arterial hypertension. – Methods to predict the growth & remodeling of blood vessels in response to changes in their biomechanical environment. – Computational tools to evaluate and predict the performance of abdominal and thoracic endografts. Dr. Figueroa has published extensively in the fields of Biomedical Engineering, Applied Mechanics, Life Sciences, and Vascular and Endovascular Surgery. He enjoys spending time with his family, gardening, and traveling.

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The VPHi keynote webinar series is a quarterly event organized by the VPHi Student Committee that provides a forum for access to senior community members and their expert competence for chiefly young scientists, but also to the VPH community as a whole. 

With the series, VPHi wishes to:

• Offer added value to prospective young scientist VPHi Student members through core content
• Create visibility of VPH knowledge dissemination for external stakeholders
• Highlight excellence within the VPHi, additionally providing student members with a label of quality
• Promote scientific interaction between junior and senior community members and across VPHi disciplines