Multiple-network poroelastic model for subject-specific myocardial perfusion simulation

Myocardial hypoperfusion triggers ischemic cascade reactions and ultimately leads to myocardial infarction. Unfortunately, medical imaging alone is not the optimal method for quantitative evaluation, and the accuracy of clinical diagnosis and subsequent treatment is limited by restricted image resolution and vascular scale identification. Numerical simulation of myocardial perfusion is expected to fill the gaps in imaging and quantitative techniques. This study introduces Multiple- Network Poroelastic Theory (MPET) into the myocardial numerical simulation. A 3D subject-specific model with boundary conditions obtained from multimodal magnetic resonance imaging is constructed, and fluid flow and fluidstructure interaction are solved within the established MPET framework. This model incorporates three fluid components, including arterial blood, arteriole/capillary blood and venous blood. Myocardial blood flow (MBF) is the core output of the model. In this study, a preliminary analysis of the values and distribution of MBF was performed, demonstrating that the numerical results are physiological and could capture the distributional characteristics of myocardial perfusion. The simulation provides some potential insights into understanding the perfusion process from a biomechanical point of view, aiding clinical diagnosis and disease risk assessment.