Education

  • Ph.D., California Institute of Technology, 1978
  • B.Sc., University of London, 1973

Research Areas and Descriptors

The figure demonstrates a study conducted on the Fontan surgery, combining image processing (to reconstruct true patient anatomies for MRI), experimental (Figure 1, 3) and computational fluid dynamics (Fig. 2, 4 A and B).

Background

Dr. Yoganathan began at Tech in 1979 as an Assistant Professor. He received a joint appointment in the Woodruff School in 1996.


Research

Dr. Yoganathan's research is in the fluid mechanics of valvular regurgitation. The major objective of this research is to develop a fundamental understanding of the fluid mechanics of valvular heart disease. Specifically, valvular regurgitation (or leakage) is characterized by a turbulent pulsatile jet of blood behind the valve and a proximal acceleration region in front of the valve after the valve closes. He is studying the fluid mechanics of intracardiac jets and the proximal acceleration region using both engineering and clinical tools. He has derived methods that predict the severity of valvular leakage from the principles of conservation of momentum and mass.

Another project is fluid mechanics of the mitral valve which is prone to a variety of defects and abnormalities that lead to interesting hemodynamic conditions. A long-term study will investigate in vitro and in vivo, the fluid and tissue mechanics of the native mitral valve.

Another focus is on impaired pulmonary blood flow in the young. The results should help identify causes of graft failure and assist surgeons in selecting interventions that establish optimal pulmonary blood flow patterns and make appropriate allowances for patient growth.

Distinctions

  • Ajit Yoganathan Named Chief Editor of Annals of Biomedical Engineering and Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering
  • American Society for Engineering Education (Bioengineering Division) Theo C. Pilkington Outstanding Educator Award, 2005
  • University of Aarhus (Denmark) Honorary Professorship in Hemodynamics, 2003
  • American Society of Mechanical Engineers Lissner Award, 1997
  • Journal of Medical Engineering and Technology  North American Editor, 1996-present
  • Sigma Xi (Georgia Tech Chapter) Research Award, 1995
  • American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering Founding Fellow, 1992
  • British Institution of Mechanical Engineers Edwin Walker Prize, 1988

Representative Publications

  • D. Zelicourt, et al. 2005. In Vitro Flow Analysis of a Patient Specific Intra-Atrial TCPC. Annals of Thoracic Surgery 79, 2094-2102.
  • D. Frakes, et al. 2004. Three-Dimensional Velocity Field Reconstruction. Journal of Biomechanical Engineering 126, 727-735.
  • A. P. Yoganathan, Z. M. He, and C. Jones. 2004. Fluid Mechanics of Heart Valves. Annual Review of Biomedical Engineering 6, 331-362.
  • Y. Xing, et al. 2004. Cyclic Pressure Affects the Biological Properties of Porcine Aortic Valve Leaflets in a Magnitude and Frequency Dependent Manner. Annals of Biomedical Engineering 32, 1461-1470.
  • J. H. Jimenez, et al. 2003. Effects of a Saddle Shaped Annulus on Mitral Valve Function and Chordal Force Distribution: An In Vitro Study. Annals of Biomedical Engineering 10, 1171-1181.