Bio

Mrudang Mathur is a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery working with Dr. William Hiesinger. He received his B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from Delhi Technological University before completing his PhD in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin under the supervision of Dr. Manuel K. Rausch. His research interests include cardiovascular biomechanics, computational science, image processing, and scientific visualization.

Honors & Awards

  • AHA Predoctoral Fellowship, American Heart Association (1/2022-12/2023)
  • Dean's Prestigious Fellowship Supplement, The University of Texas at Austin (2023,2022)
  • USNCCM17 Travel Award, US Association for Computational Mechanics (2023)
  • Annual Meeting Travel Award, Society of Engineering Science (2022)
  • Warren A. & Alice L. Meyer Scholarship in Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin (2021,2019)
  • Summer Research Fellowship, Nanyang Technological University (2017)
  • International Additive Manufacturing Challenge - Best Reengineered Product, ASME (2016)
  • Merit Scholarship, Delhi Technological University (2014)
  • DST INSPIRE Scholarship (declined), Government of India (2014)

Professional Education

  • PhD, The University of Texas at Austin, Mechanical Engineering (2024)
  • BTech, Delhi Technological University, Mechanical Engineering (2018)

Stanford Advisors

Contact

  • Academic
    mrudang@stanford.edu
    University - Scholar Department: Cardiothoracic Surgery Position: Postdoctoral Scholar

Additional Info

All Publications

  • Tricuspid valve edge-to-edge repair simulations are highly sensitive to annular boundary conditions. Journal of the mechanical behavior of biomedical materials Haese, C. E., Dubey, V., Mathur, M., Pouch, A. M., Timek, T. A., Rausch, M. K. 2024; 163: 106879

    Abstract

    Transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) simulations may provide insight into this novel therapeutic technology and help optimize its use. However, because of the relatively short history and technical complexity of TEER simulations, important questions remain unanswered. For example, there is no consensus on how to handle the annular boundary conditions in these simulations. In this short communication, we tested the sensitivity of such simulations to the choice of annular boundary conditions using a high-fidelity finite element model of a human tricuspid valve. Therein, we embedded the annulus among elastic springs to simulate the compliance of the perivalvular myocardium. Next, we varied the spring stiffness parametrically and explored the impact on two key measures of valve function: coaptation area and leaflet stress. Additionally, we compared our results to simulations with a pinned annulus. We found that a compliant annular boundary condition led to a TEER-induced "annuloplasty effect," i.e., annular remodeling, as observed clinically. Moreover, softer springs led to a larger coaptation area and smaller leaflet stresses. On the other hand, pinned annular boundary conditions led to unrealistically high stresses and no "annuloplasty effect." Furthermore, we found that the impact of the boundary conditions depended on the clip position. Our findings in this case study emphasize the importance of the annular boundary condition in tricuspid TEER simulations. Thus, we recommend that care be taken when choosing annular boundary conditions and that results from simulations using pinned boundaries should be interpreted with caution.

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2024.106879

    View details for PubMedID 39742687

  • Leaflet remodeling reduces tricuspid valve function in a computational model JOURNAL OF THE MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS Mathur, M., Malinowski, M., Jazwiec, T., Timek, T. A., Rausch, M. K. 2024; 152: 106453

    Abstract

    Tricuspid valve leaflets have historically been considered "passive flaps". However, we have recently shown that tricuspid leaflets actively remodel in sheep with functional tricuspid regurgitation. We hypothesize that these remodeling-induced changes reduce leaflet coaptation and, therefore, contribute to valvular dysfunction. To test this, we simulated the impact of remodeling-induced changes on valve mechanics in a reverse-engineered computer model of the human tricuspid valve. To this end, we combined right-heart pressures and tricuspid annular dynamics recorded in an ex vivo beating heart, with subject-matched in vitro measurements of valve geometry and material properties, to build a subject-specific finite element model. Next, we modified the annular geometry and boundary conditions to mimic changes seen in patients with pulmonary hypertension. In this model, we then increased leaflet thickness and stiffness and reduced the stretch at which leaflets stiffen, which we call "transition-λ." Subsequently, we quantified mean leaflet stresses, leaflet systolic angles, and coaptation area as measures of valve function. We found that leaflet stresses, leaflet systolic angle, and coaptation area are sensitive to independent changes in stiffness, thickness, and transition-λ. When combining thickening, stiffening, and changes in transition-λ, we found that anterior and posterior leaflet stresses decreased by 26% and 28%, respectively. Furthermore, systolic angles increased by 43%, and coaptation area decreased by 66%; thereby impeding valve function. While only a computational study, we provide the first evidence that remodeling-induced leaflet thickening and stiffening may contribute to valvular dysfunction. Targeted suppression of such changes in diseased valves could restore normal valve mechanics and promote leaflet coaptation.

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2024.106453

    View details for Web of Science ID 001180594300001

    View details for PubMedID 38335648

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC11048730

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9273-5586