📝 SummarXiv

Abstract

Purpose: Transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) and annuloplasty devices are increasingly used to treat mitral valve regurgitation, yet their mechanical effects and interactions remain poorly understood. This study aimed to establish an open-source finite element modeling (FEM) framework for simulating patient-specific mitral valve repairs and to evaluate how TEER, annuloplasty, and combined strategies influence leaflet coaptation and valve mechanics. Methods: Four G4 MitraClip geometries were modeled and deployed in FEBio to capture leaflet grasp and subsequent clip-leaflet motion under physiologic pressurization. CardioBand annuloplasty was simulated by reducing annular circumference via displacement-controlled boundary conditions, and Mitralign suture annuloplasty was modeled using discrete nodal constraints. Simulations were performed for prolapse and dilated annulus cases. Valve competence (regurgitant orifice area, ROA), coaptation/contact area (CA), and leaflet stress and strain distributions were quantified. Results: In prolapse, TEER restored coaptation but increased leaflet stresses, whereas band and suture annuloplasty produced distinct valve morphologies with lower stress distributions. In dilation, TEER alone left residual regurgitation, while annuloplasty improved closure. Combined TEER & band annuloplasty minimized ROA, maximized CA, and reduced stresses relative to TEER alone, though stresses remained higher than annuloplasty alone. Conclusion: This study establishes a reproducible, open-source FEM framework for simulating transcatheter TEER and annuloplasty repairs, with the potential to be extended beyond the mitral valve. By quantifying the mechanical trade-offs of TEER, suture annuloplasty, band annuloplasty, and their combinations, this methodology highlights the potential of virtual repair to guide patient selection and optimize surgical planning.