Assessment of LV structural remodelling by the application of the finite element method to 3D echocardiography data

This study presents novel applications for conducting left ventricular (LV) shape analysis within a finite element (FE) framework. The 3D endocardial surface data of both healthy and dilated LVs are obtained using TomTec 4D LV-Analysis software through echocardiography and then imported into the FE framework for LV geometry. By applying FE analysis to 3D echocardiography data, we propose novel methods for evaluating LV shape and remodelling, including the nodal strain approximation along myocardial fibre directions, the assessment of LV sphericity and eccentricity in multiple planes, a new method for LV apical conicity, and the analysis of regional LV rotations. The feasibility of these novel formulations and the developed FE based framework are demonstrated by evaluating and comparing 3D echocardiography data from two objects, one with a healthy LV and the other with dilated cardiomyopathy.