Method and system for patient-specific modeling of blood flow

A method for planning treatment for a patient using at least one computer system, the method comprising:

• inputting into at least one computer system patient-specific data regarding a geometry of an anatomical structure of the patient;
• creating, using the at least one computer system, a three-dimensional model representing at least a portion of the anatomical structure of the patient based on the patient-specific data, the three-dimensional model representing at least a portion of a plurality of coronary arteries emanating from a portion of the patient's aorta, the three-dimensional model representing at least one fluid flow inlet and at least one fluid flow outlet;
• creating, using the at least one computer system, at least one boundary condition model representing fluid flow through at least one of the at least one inlet or the at least one outlet, wherein creating the at least one boundary condition model includes determining an individual resistance for each of the plurality of coronary arteries in the at least one boundary condition model based on a mass or volume of at least a portion of the anatomical structure;
• determining, using the at least one computer system, a first fractional flow reserve within the anatomical structure of the patient based on the three-dimensional model and information regarding a physiological condition of the patient;
• modifying, using the at least one computer system, the at least one boundary condition model based on a change in the physiological condition of the patient;
• and
• determining, using the at least one computer system, a second fractional flow reserve within the anatomical structure of the patient based on the at least one modified boundary condition model.

A system for planning treatment for a patient, the system comprising:

• at least one computer system configured to:
• receive patient-specific imaging data regarding a geometry of at least a portion of an anatomical structure of the patient;
• create a three-dimensional model representing at least the portion of the anatomical structure based on the patient-specific imaging data, the three-dimensional model representing at least a portion of a plurality of coronary arteries emanating from the patient's aorta, the three-dimensional model including portions representing a plurality of outlets for blood flow formed by the plurality of coronary arteries and a portion representing at least one inlet for blood flow;
• create at least one boundary condition model including information regarding a physiological condition of the patient, the at least one boundary condition model representing blood flow through at least one of the at least one inlet or at least one of the plurality of outlets, wherein creating the at least one boundary condition model includes determining an individual resistance for each of the plurality of coronary arteries in the at least one boundary condition model based on a mass or volume of at least a portion of the anatomical structure;
• determine first information regarding a blood flow characteristic within at least the portion of the plurality of coronary arteries based on the three-dimensional model and at least one boundary condition model;
• receive input from a user regarding a plan of treatment relating to a change in the physiological condition of the patient;
• modify the at least one boundary condition model based on the received input;
• and
• determine second information regarding the blood flow characteristic at a plurality of locations within at least the portion of the plurality of coronary arteries based on the at least one modified boundary condition model, each of the first information and the second information including at least one of blood pressure, blood velocity, blood flow rate, or fractional flow reserve within at least the portion of the plurality of coronary arteries.

A method for planning treatment for a patient using at least one computer system, the method comprising:

• inputting into the at least one computer system patient-specific imaging data regarding a geometry of at least a portion of an anatomical structure of the patient;
• creating, using the at least one computer system, a three-dimensional model representing at least the portion of the anatomical structure based on the patient-specific imaging data, the three-dimensional model representing at least a portion of a plurality of coronary arteries emanating from the patient's aorta, the three-dimensional model including portions representing a plurality of outlets for blood flow formed by the plurality of coronary arteries and a portion representing at least one inlet for blood flow;
• creating, using the at least one computer system, at least one boundary condition model including information regarding a physiological condition of the patient, the at least one boundary condition model representing blood flow through at least one of the at least one inlet or at least one of the plurality of outlets, wherein creating the at least one boundary condition model includes determining an individual resistance for each of the plurality of coronary arteries in the at least one boundary condition model based on a mass or volume of at least a portion of the anatomical structure;
• determining, using the at least one computer system, first information regarding a blood flow characteristic within at least the portion of the plurality of coronary arteries based on the three-dimensional model and at least one boundary condition model;
• inputting into the at least one computer system information regarding a plan of treatment relating to a change in the physiological condition of the patient;
• modifying, using the at least one computer system, the at least one boundary condition model based on the information regarding the plan of treatment;
• and
• determining, using the at least one computer system, second information regarding the blood flow characteristic at a plurality of locations within at least the portion of the plurality of coronary arteries based on the at least one modified boundary condition model, each of the first information and the second information including at least one of blood pressure, blood velocity, blood flow rate, or fractional flow reserve within at least the portion of the plurality of coronary arteries.