Method and system for sensitivity analysis in modeling blood flow characteristics

A method for determining cardiovascular information for a patient, using at least one computer system, the method comprising:

• generating an anatomical model of at least a portion of a patient's vasculature using patient-specific images of a geometry of at least a portion of the patient's vasculature;
• creating a computational model of a blood flow characteristic of the patient using the anatomical model;
• generating or identifying at least one patient-specific uncertainty value specifying a range of uncertainty for at least one of an uncertain parameter, uncertain clinical variable, and/or uncertain geometry of the anatomical model;
• generating or receiving a probability model comprising statistics for blood flow characteristic calculations, based on the at least one patient-specific uncertainty value;
• modifying the probability model by iteratively:
• adjusting one or more of the at least one uncertain parameter, uncertain clinical variable, and/or uncertain geometry of the anatomical model using the at least one patient-specific uncertainty value;
• using the computational model and the one or more adjusted uncertain parameter, adjusted uncertain clinical variable, and/or adjusted uncertain geometry of the anatomical model to generate a blood flow characteristic value;
• and
• using the generated blood flow characteristic value to determine statistical variation of the blood flow characteristic value as a result of adjustment of the at least one patient-specific uncertainty value;
• receiving a target confidence level;
• calculating a patient-specific blood flow characteristic value and a range of variation for the patient-specific blood flow characteristic value consistent with the target confidence level, using the computational model of the blood flow characteristic and the modified probability model;
• and
• outputting the anatomical model, the patient-specific blood flow characteristic value, and the calculated range of variation for the patient-specific blood flow characteristic value.

A non-transitory computer readable medium for use on at least one computer system containing computer executable programming instructions for determining uncertainty or sensitivity in cardiovascular information for a patient, the instructions comprising steps for:

• generating an anatomical model of at least a portion of a patient's vasculature using patient-specific images of a geometry of at least a portion of the patient's vasculature;
• creating a computational model of a blood flow characteristic of the patient using the anatomical model;
• generating or identifying at least one patient-specific uncertainty value specifying a range of uncertainty for at least one of an uncertain parameter, uncertain clinical variable, and/or uncertain geometry of the anatomical model;
• generating or receiving a probability model comprising statistics for blood flow characteristic calculations, based on the at least one patient-specific uncertainty value;
• modifying the probability model by iteratively:
• adjusting one or more of the at least one uncertain parameter, uncertain clinical variable, and/or uncertain geometry of the anatomical model using the at least one patient-specific uncertainty value;
• using the computational model and the one or more adjusted uncertain parameter, adjusted uncertain clinical variable, and/or adjusted uncertain geometry of the anatomical model to generate a blood flow characteristic value;
• and
• using the generated blood flow characteristic value to determine statistical variation of the blood flow characteristic value as a result of adjustment of the at least one patient-specific uncertainty value;
• receiving a target confidence level;
• calculating a patient-specific blood flow characteristic value and a range of variation for the patient-specific blood flow characteristic value consistent with the target confidence level, using the computational model of the blood flow characteristic and the modified probability model;
• and
• outputting the anatomical model, the patient-specific blood flow characteristic value, and the calculated range of variation for the patient-specific blood flow characteristic value.