  Computer modeling can provide quantitative insight into cardiac fluid
dynamics phenomena that are not evident from standard imaging tools. We propose
a new approach to modeling left ventricle fluid dynamics based on an
image-driven model-based description of ventricular motion. In this approach,
the end-diastolic geometry and time-dependent deformation of the left ventricle
cavity are obtained from cardiac magnetic resonance images and a fictitious
elastic structure is used to impose the contractile behavior of the left
ventricle. This allows seamless treatment of the isovolumic phases. Besides the
ventricular motion, the intracavitary fluid dynamics is controlled by the
mitral valve. Three different mitral valve models are included in the
simulation: an idealized diode (with or without regurgitation) and a lumped
parameter model accounting for the opening dynamics of the valve and including
regurgitation.
