Improving clinical translation of cardiovascular circulatory models through an intuitive graphical user interface to CircAdapt, presenting simulation results as clinical images and signals

Abstract

Despite the great potential of computational models, their clinical use is limited due to lack of clinical translation. It is, therefore, desirable to present and visualise simulation results as regular imaging data commonly used in clinical practice. The purpose of this paper is to present an implementation of a graphical user interface (GUI) for the lumped model CircAdapt. The GUI displays simulation results as: 1) an animated schematic short-axis view of ventricular geometry, 2) a Wiggers diagram relating pressure and volume curves with clear indication of the timing events within the cardiac cycle, 3) a simulated Pulsed Wave Doppler echocardiographic image of mitral/aortic and tricuspid/pulmonary flow, and, 4) a B-Mode echocardiographic image of short-axis ventricular geometry. We have modeled different physiological and pathological conditions to illustrate the applicability of the GUI: normal state, aortic stenosis and acute response to exercise with high pulmonary vascular resistance. © 2013 Springer-Verlag.