Surgical Simulation Model of the Meniscus

建议设计并验证形成人类半月板的组织的计算机模拟模型。这项研究将作为伦斯勒理工学院交互计算机图形学产业/大学合作研究中心的一部分进行。现代微创外科技术使构建外科训练模拟器在概念上成为可能，研究将朝着这一目标进行。建模约束不同于计算机图形学或生物力学中通常遇到的约束。模型必须能够支持实时模拟，产生显示材料结构特征和表面的可视化效果，并提供令人信服的机械响应。模拟将半月板组织视为由多孔固体基质中的流体组成的复合材料。初始建模将利用两种截然不同的方法：1)有限元和2)粒子系统近似。有限元方法保证了高精度的生物力学表示，而粒子系统方法将更易于并行化和图形绘制。最终目标是开发一种混合表示法。除了首席调查员外，还提议支持威廉姆斯学院的一名女本科生。所有人员都是高素质的。项目经理建议为该项目奖励威廉姆斯学院30,000美元，为期一(1)年。其中包括5,000美元“妇女、少数群体和残疾人工程研究助理的补充资金”。

It is proposed to design and validate a computer-simulation model of the tissue forming the menisci of the human knee. This research would be pursued as part of the Industry/University Cooperative Research Center for Interactive Computer Graphics at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Modern minimally-invasive surgical techniques make it conceptually possible to construct a surgical-training simulator, and research will be directed towards this goal. Modeling constraints are different from those normally encountered in either computer graphics or biomechanics. The model must be capable of supporting real-time simulation, produce visualizations showing both the structural character and the surface of the material, and provide a convincing mechanical response. Simulations will treat meniscal tissue as a composite consisting of fluid within a porous solid matrix. Initial modeling will capitalize on two very different methodologies: 1) finite-element, and 2) particle-system approximation. The finite- element approach promises highly accurate biomechanical representation, while the particle-system approach will be more amenable to parallelization and graphical rendering. The eventual goal is to develop a hybrid representation. In addition to the principal investigator, it is proposed to support a woman undergraduate student from Williams College. All personnel are highly qualified. The Program Manager recommends that Williams College, a RUI, be awarded $30,000 for one (1) year for this project. This includes $5,000 for "Supplemental Funding of Women, Minority and Handicapped Engineering Research Assistants.