USE OF A PARAMETRIC FINITE-ELEMENT MODEL OF THE MITRAL VALVE TO ASSESS HEALTHY AND PATHOLOGICAL VALVE BEHAVIORS

Abstract : The present study is focused on the mitral heart valve, which is the valve that separates the left ventricle from the left atrium. The aim is to provide a parametrical geometrical model of the valve in order to study pathological valves (e.g. suffering from cord rupture) and compare it to the physiological case. A finite element model is used to quantify how the valve defects affect the valve dynamics during closure, the internal stress distribution along the valve leaflets and the level of regurgitation.