Research Article
Heart as an Inverted Octagonal Pyramid: Fluid Dynamics of Cardiac Ejection
Pradeep Kumar Radhakrishnan*
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 3, June 2025
Pages:
23-30
Received:
24 April 2025
Accepted:
7 May 2025
Published:
25 June 2025
DOI:
10.11648/j.ijcts.20251103.11
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Views:
Abstract: Accurate geometric modeling of the human heart is essential for understanding and simulating cardiac fluid dynamics. Traditional left ventricular (LV) models—typically ellipsoidal, cylindrical, or conical—are limited in their ability to represent the complex regional structure and dynamic flow conditions present in a functioning heart. This study proposes an advanced geometric abstraction: the inverted octagonal pyramid model of the LV. This configuration introduces eight triangular faces converging at the apex, with an anatomically inspired octagonal base representing the mitral valve annulus, offering superior segmentation, mesh compatibility, and regional mechanical analysis. Using unsteady Navier-Stokes equations under physiological boundary conditions, this model captures systolic ejection mechanics including jet formation, vortex dynamics, wall shear stress (WSS) distribution, and flow separation zones. Quantitative simulation results across three scenarios—healthy heart, aortic stenosis, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)—reveal that the pyramid model predicts a Reynolds number (Re) range of 1200–5100 and vortex entropy index (VEI) values up to 0.6, indicating transitional-to-turbulent flow in diseased states. WSS distribution, especially near polygonal junctions, highlights zones of potential endocardial stress and thrombotic risk that conventional models fail to capture. This geometry is not only computationally robust for fluid–structure interaction (FSI) modeling but also aligns with echocardiographic segmental views, enhancing clinical relevance. Applications include patient-specific valve and stent design, surgical planning, CRT lead placement, and AI-based cardiac flow diagnostics. By more faithfully reflecting the true structural and flow heterogeneity of the heart, the inverted octagonal pyramid model establishes a new standard for integrative, biomechanical cardiovascular simulations. It bridges clinical imaging, computational modeling, and physiological accuracy—advancing both diagnostic precision and therapeutic planning in contemporary cardiology.
Abstract: Accurate geometric modeling of the human heart is essential for understanding and simulating cardiac fluid dynamics. Traditional left ventricular (LV) models—typically ellipsoidal, cylindrical, or conical—are limited in their ability to represent the complex regional structure and dynamic flow conditions present in a functioning heart. This study p...
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