Numerical Simulation of the Mitral Valve Repair

This paper presents a customizable finite element framework of the mitral valve and surrounding structures for the numerical study of transcatheter annuloplasty. The geometry used in this work corresponds to a single reference left-heart model provided by KIT and was preprocessed using CAD tools. The present study focuses on the mechanical response of the valve region during prosthetic ring positioning and annular downsizing. In the complete annuloplasty model, prosthesis positioning and downsizing were completed sequentially in Abaqus. Because severe mesh distortion prevented completion of physiological loading after downsizing in the prosthesis-including model, ventricular contraction and pressure loading were implemented in a separate “Physio” configuration without the prosthesis. The resulting deformation and stress patterns are consistent with previously reported computational trends, with elevated stresses in the atrioventricular-junction region near the fibrous trigones and posterior annular region. The model should therefore be considered a methodological framework and proof of concept, rather than a fully validated patient-specific planning tool. Future work will focus on mesh convergence, experimental validation, and reintegration of physiological loading into the complete annuloplasty model.