A constrained mixture model of the left ventricle and its application to simulating myocardial infarction

Myocardial infarction results in a change to the mechanical environment of the left ventricle (LV). Consequently, following an MI, both the localised infarct region and the LV will remodel. Computational models may help us to predict whether the remodelling will have a deleterious impact on LV mechanical function. We model the left venticle as a nonlinear elastic spherical membrane using a constrained mixture approach. Constituents are configured in the loaded configuration to optimise the mechanical function of the heart. First, we illustrate a conceptual model of the healthy ventricle and its adaption to altered mechanical loading. We then consider its application to simulate myocardial infarction: an immediate loss of myocytes is prescribed and we simulate the growth and remodelling of the infarct.