Embedded Files
VIRTUheart is a software package that models cardiovascular physiology from medical imaging. It is an academic development project led by the Mathematical Modelling in Medicine Research Group, based at the University of Sheffield, UK. The VIRTUheart team include interventional cardiologists, engineers, mathematicians and software developers.
Originally conceived in 2012, it has been developed over the last ten years and now has extended applications and uses. The aim of VIRTUheart is to generate clinically useful data to help support clinical decisions when treating patients in the cardiac catheter laboratory.
vFFR
vFFR
virtual FFR (aka vFFR) computes fractional flow reserve (FFR), without a pressure wire, using computational fluid dynamics (CFD), based on a 3D reconstruction of the arterial anatomy. VIRTUheart was the original vFFR model derived from invasive angiography, first published in 2013. Back then it took >24 hours to compute, but now takes just seconds. It is also capable of virtual stenting [ref] and virtual pressure pull-back.
virtuQ
virtuQ
virtuQ computes absolute coronary blood flow (in mL/min), absolute microvascular resistance, coronary flow reserve and stenosis resistance. It also calculates the reduction in flow due to coronary artery disease. virtuQ computes these parameters from data generated during a standard angiogram and pressure wire study. No additional hardware or drug infusion is required. Latest publication.
For patients and public
For patients and public
VIRTUheart is a medical research and development project run by a team of specialist heart doctors, engineers and software developers in Sheffield, UK. The project has been running for over a decade. Our aim is to construct computer-based models, based on patient tests, to simulate important changes in blood pressure and flow, inside the heart and the coronary arteries, that can be used to make better decisions about how to treat people with heart disease.
We are grateful to the Cardiovascular Patient Panel at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust who have, provided input, guidance and advice regarding our research and development.
Images from VIRTUheart work
Images from VIRTUheart work
Team
Team
Click name for University page
Professor Julian Gunn is Professor of Interventional cardiology and leads the MMM Research Group.
Dr Paul Morris is a Senior Clinical Lecturer, Wellcome Trust Fellow and interventional cardiologist.
Professor Rod Hose is Professor of Computational Biomechanics.
Professor Ian Halliday is Professor of Computational Modelling in Cardiovascular Disease.
Dr Gosling is NIHR clinical lecturer in cardiology.
Alberto Biancardi is an image computing staff scientist.
Nada Ghorab is an EPSRC PhD student working integrating OCT with VIRTUheart
Dr Andrew Narracott is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Sheffield
Professor Pat Lawford is Professor of Physiological Modelling.
Dr Daniel Taylor is an academic, specialised foundation doctor
John Fenner is a Medical Physicist and Senior Lecturer at the University of Sheffield
Krzysztof Czechowicz is a software application developer
Dr Tom Newman is an NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow.
Supporters
Supporters
We are grateful to those who have supported aspects of the project and our team over the years.
Collaborators and affiliations
Collaborators and affiliations
We have enjoyed working alongside some wonderful people and institutions.
Page updated
Report abuse