GPU accelerated simulations of the whole heart open new research paths

The predicting capabilities of cardiovascular computational models depend on the accurate solution of the hemodynamics, the realistic characterization of the hyperelastic and electric tissue properties along with the correct description of their interaction. The resulting fluid–structure–electrophysiology interaction (FSEI) thus requires an immense computational power, usually available only in large supercomputing centers.      

Our group has made an effort in porting the original CPU code to CUDA and the GPU–accelerated FSEI algorithm can now tackle complex simulations of the whole cardiac dynamics - including the four chambers with the valves, connected with the thoracic aorta, the pulmonary veins/arteries, the inferior/superior   venae cavae - within a few hours and desktop workstations, thus strongly reducing the time–to–solution and the need for sophisticated infrastructures. This approach is particularly appealing if the tool has to support medical decisions which require quick solutions possibly obtained by local computational resources.  

The accuracy of the numerical tool and the unprecedented computational speed-up further open the way for running simulation campaigns to study the response to pathologies of synthetic populations or for virtual testing medical devices through an uncertainty quantification analysis.