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Computational modelling of tissue engineered heart valves

Ziel

Tissue engineering is a novel and promising approach to creating artificial heart valves. This technique requires a porous biodegradable scaffold to be seeded with cells. In time the scaffold is replaced by living tissue resulting in a biologically authentic valve. There are, however, still significant challenges in terms of understanding the roles of the biological as well as fluid and structural dynamical function in this process. We propose to validate and improve upon state-of-the-art numerical modelling developed by the applicant.

The project will be in collaboration with the clinically based heart valve tissue engineering group at the Harefield hospital and the biomedical flow group in the Department of Aeronautics also at Imperial College London. Currently a 3D fluid-structure interaction numerical model has been developed that is capable of computing pulsatile flow interactions with flexible leaflets. This model correctly captures the motion of leaflets which barely prohibits flow in systole but sustains a transvalvular pressure during diastole. However, physiologically realistic computations have to accurately capture the transitional, separated nature of aortic flow.

We propose to combine the applicant's modelling capabilities with the expertise in transitional, cardiovascular flow modelling developed by the Aeronautics group to develop a novel simulation technique for the improved diagnosis of heart valve disease. A clinically useful modelling tool also requires appropriate validation. This is possible using PIV and ultrasound measurements of the model bioreactor currently being developed by the group at Harefield in the Aeronautics bioflow laboratory. The proposed investigation will also provide valuable insight into the complex fluid dynamics around flexible leaflets. Understanding of these flows is essential in the design of a successful bioreactor where the conditioning of the cell under fluid loading represents a fundamental challenge.

Aufforderung zur Vorschlagseinreichung

FP6-2004-MOBILITY-5
Andere Projekte für diesen Aufruf anzeigen

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IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINE
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South Kensington Campus
LONDON
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