Abstract
Diseases of the heart and blood vessels are the number one causes of patient mortality in the United States. Of these conditions, myocardial infarctions, more commonly known as heart attacks, are the most feared of cardiovascular pathologies. The American Heart Association has dedicated billions of dollars over the past four decades to basic science and clinical research to help prevent and treat heart attacks. Detailed assessment of three dimensional stress, strain, and deformation histories is important because it has been noted that reduced transmural strain and left ventricular torsion may be indicative of myocardial infarction resulting from ischemia [1]. Previous studies have been limited to clinical and experimental modalities of study. With the evolution of high speed computers and finite element softwares, detailed and effective biomechanical modeling of complex physiological systems such as the heart have been undertaken. The objective of this study is to utilize finite element analysis to assess local and global deformation and stress patterns in normal vs. imposed conditions of myocardial infarction. Such knowledge obtained a priori could be utilized by cardiothoracic surgeons and cardiologists to improve the efficacy of treatment and treatment options for patients suffering from heart disease.
