Articles techniques et présentations

The complex behavior of biological prosthetic heart valves was simulated. A multiphysics computational approach was adopted using different modules of COMSOL Multiphysics: the LiveLink(TM) interface was used to exchange the valve geometry with CAD, Structural Mechanics Module to set loads, boundary conditions and implement anisotropic hyper-elastic constitutive laws for leaflet tissue, PDE to control fiber orientation on the leaflet. FSI analysis was carried out by adding Moving Mesh and CFD Module. Structural analyses were carried out to simulate cardiac cycle by means of a uniform pressure applied on the surface of the leaflet allowing identification of most stressed regions. FSI analysis allowed the evaluation of flow velocity field across the valve as well as of pressure gradient and effective orifice area.