Fluid-Structure Interaction Analysis of Subject-Specific Mitral Valve Regurgitation Treatment with an Intra-Valvular Spacer

Abstract

Mitral regurgitation imposes a significant symptomatic burden on patients who are not candidates for conventional surgery. For these patients, transcatheter repair and replacement devices are emerging as alternative options. One such device is an intravalvular balloon or spacer that is inserted between the mitral valve leaflets to fill the gap that gives rise to mitral regurgitation. In this study, we apply a large-deformation fluid-structure interaction analysis to a fully 3D subject-specific mitral valve model to assess the efficacy of the intra-valvular spacer for reducing mitral regurgitation severity. The model includes a topologically 3D subvalvular apparatus with unprecedented detail. Results show that device fixation and anchoring at the location of the subject’s regurgitant orifice is imperative for optimal reduction of mitral regurgitation.