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

有限元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。患者特有的有限元模型能够表示高度异质性的骨结构，因此很难用其他分析或参数开发的技术来表示。这项研究的目的是开发和验证健壮的自动化方法，以准确地建模人类骨骼中复杂的薄骨结构。在这项工作中，假设可以使用多分辨率/模态信息以及网格变形和映射方法来开发健壮的高度自动化的算法，以生成准确描述其力学行为的多个薄骨骼结构的复杂有限元模型。本项目的具体目标是：(1)量化CT分辨率对生成瘦骨FE模型的影响；(2)优化基于标准/锥束CT的FE模型生成，以表示薄骨结构；(3)表征和模拟通过薄骨关节的载荷传递；(4)开发网格变形和映射方法，以生成和参数分析多个薄骨结构；以及(5)实验验证使用所开发方法生成的骨盆和颅面骨骼的有限元模型，表征它们完好无损、骨折后和稳定后的行为。准确评估薄骨结构的结构完整性对于了解解剖学差异、病理过程、创伤损伤和成功的临床干预所必需的机械要求是至关重要的。这项研究的跨学科性质以及先进的计算和实验设施为学生提供了一个特殊的培训场地，在那里学生可以发展真正有市场的生物医学工程技能。能够准确表示薄骨结构的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继续使用。

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.