A Simplified Rotational Spring Model for Mitral Valve Dynamics

A simple non-linear rotational spring model has been implemented to model the motion of mitral valve, located between the left atrium and ventricle. A measured pressure difference curve was used as the input into the model, which represents an applied torque to the valve chords. Various damping and hysteresis states were investigated to find a model that best matches reported animal data of chord movement during a heartbeat. The study is limited by the use of one dataset from the literature, however results clearly highlight some physiological issues such as the damping and chord stiffness changing within one cardiac cycle. Very good correlation was achieved between modeled and experimental valve angle, indicating good promise for future simulation of cardiac dysfunction, such as mitral regurgitation or stenosis.