This page introduces some of the application fields that we are working on at our institute.
Overview
Stenting Applications
Stents are medical implants used to provide structural support and aid in the treatment of blood vessels, particularly when they are narrowed, weakened, or at risk of rupture. Increasing reliability and accuracy of numerical models grants access to otherwise unavailable data to foster the understanding of the implants and their interaction with the vascular system. At IMCS we are actively collaborating with partners from academia and clinical practice to create and validate numerical models. The goal is to provide a roboust framework to simulate the full implantation procedure of the stent inside the artery. In this regard, promising fields of application are, e.g., patient-specific modelling of surgical procedures, or virtual twinning. The insights gained through mathematical modelling can guide surgical decision making, allow for comparison of various treatment options or can inspire medical device design.
Contacts at IMCS
Collaborators
- Institute for Computational Mechanics (LNM), TU Munich
- Chair for Computational Analysis of Technical Systems (CATS), RWTH Aachen
Key Publications
- Datz, J.C., Steinbrecher, I., Meier, C., Hagmeyer, N., Engel, L.-C., Popp, A., Pfaller, M.R., Schunkert, H., Wall, W.A. (2024): Patient-specific coronary angioplasty simulations - a mixed-dimensional finite element modeling approach, Preprint, submitted for publication, arXiv
Organ Modeling
Computational modeling provides a powerful tool for examining biological structures in ways that would be challenging or impossible through traditional methods. We leverage computational mechanics to simulate and analyze the behavior of human organs, for example cerebral aneurysms and stomach mechanics. By creating detailed, patient-specific models, we aim to understand the stress distributions and structural vulnerabilities within these organs under various physiological conditions. Our models help predict rupture risks for cerebral aneurysms, contributing to more accurate diagnostics and improved treatment planning. In stomach modeling, we explore the biomechanical processes involved in digestion and food transport, shedding light on issues such as gastric motility disorders. These simulations allow us to visualize intricate biological processes and enhance our understanding of organ functionality, ultimately supporting personalized medicine and advancing medical interventions. Our research bridges the gap between biology and engineering and pushes the boundaries of non-invasive clinical solutions.
Contacts at IMCS
Collaborators
Key Publications
- Frank, M., Holzberger, F., Horvat, M., Kirschke, J., Mayr, M., Muhr, M., Nebulishvili, N., Popp, A., Schwarting, J., Wohlmuth, B. (2024): Numerical simulation of endovascular treatment options for cerebral aneurysms, GAMM-Mitteilungen, 47:e202370007, DOI (Open Access)
Civil Engineering Structures
Another key area of our research are fiber-reinforced structures. To capture the complex interactions between the fibers and the surrounding matrix materials, we develop models for high-fidelity numerical simulations and surrogate models, based for example on physics-informed approaches. We also focus on shape optimization of fiber reinforcements to optimize the structural performance of non-standard reinforced concrete components. Conventional design methods often result in conservative reinforcement designs, leading to inefficient use of resources. By leveraging state-of-the-art mixed-dimensional interaction methods, we simulate the composite behavior of reinforced concrete with high accuracy, enabling detailed shape optimization of steel reinforcements. By combining these highly detailed simulations with faster, lower-fidelity models, our research paves the way for creating hybrid digital twins of larger fiber-reinforced concrete structures, such as bridges.