Multi-resolution modeling of thin bone structures in the human skeleton

有限元（FE）分析是一种强大的工具，已成功地用于预测健康和病理骨骼的强度。患者特异性有限元模型能够表示骨骼结构，这些骨骼结构在表现上是高度异质的，因此很难用其他分析或参数化开发的技术来表示。本研究的目的是开发和验证人类骨骼中复杂薄骨结构精确建模的鲁棒自动化方法。在这项工作中，假设多分辨率/模态信息和网格变形和映射方法可用于开发鲁棒的高度自动化算法，以生成精确描述其力学行为的薄骨结构的多个复杂有限元模型。具体而言，本项目旨在：(1)量化CT分辨率对薄骨有限元模型生成的影响；(2)优化基于标准/锥梁CT的有限元模型生成，以表示薄骨结构；(3)表征和模拟薄骨关节的载荷传递；(4)开发网格变形和映射方法，以生成和参数化分析多个薄骨结构；(5)实验验证使用开发的方法生成的骨盆和颅面骨骼的有限元模型，表征它们在骨折后和稳定后的完整行为。准确评估薄骨结构的完整性对于理解解剖差异、病理过程、创伤性损伤和成功临床干预所必需的力学要求至关重要。本研究的跨学科性质和先进的计算和实验设施为学生提供了一个特殊的训练场地，可以培养真正适合市场的生物医学工程技能。能够准确表征薄骨结构力学行为的自动化技术将增强有限元分析的临床潜力，并推动其在肌肉骨骼生物医学研究和设计中的持续应用。

Finite element (FE) analysis is a powerful tool that has been used successfully to predict the strength of healthy and pathologic bones. Patient specific FE modeling is able to represent bony structures, which are highly heterogeneous in their presentation and thus difficult to represent with other analytical or parametrically developed techniques. The objective of this research is to develop and validate robust automated methods for accurate modeling of complex thin bone structures in the human skeleton. In this work it is hypothesized that multi-resolution/modality information and mesh morphing and mapping methods can be used to develop robust highly automated algorithms to generate multiple complex FE models of thin bone structures that accurately describe their mechanical behaviour. Specifically this project aims to: (1) Quantify the impact of CT resolution on thin bone FE model generation (2) Optimize standard / cone beam CT based FE model generation to represent thin bone architecture; (3) Characterize and model load transmission through thin bone articulations; (4) Develop mesh morphing and mapping methods to generate and parametrically analyse multiple thin bone structures; and (5) Experimentally validate FE models of the pelvis and craniofacial skeleton generated using the developed methodologies, characterizing their behaviour intact, following fracture and post-stabilization. Accurate assessment of the structural integrity of thin bone structures is essential in understanding anatomical differences, pathological processes, traumatic injuries and the mechanical requirements necessary for successful clinical interventions. The interdisciplinary nature of this research and the advanced computational and experimental facilities provide an exceptional training ground in which students can develop truly marketable biomedical engineering skills. Automated techniques that can accurately represent the mechanical behaviour of thin bone structures will enhance the clinical potential of FE analysis and motivate its continued use in musculoskeletal biomedical research and design.