An efficient approach to converting three-dimensional image data into highly accurate computational models.

Full Abstract

Image-based meshing is opening up exciting new possibilities for the application of computational continuum mechanics methods (finite-element and computational fluid dynamics) to a wide range of biomechanical and biomedical problems that were previously intractable owing to the difficulty in obtaining suitably realistic models. Innovative surface and volume mesh generation techniques have recently been developed, which convert three-dimensional imaging data, as obtained from magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, micro-CT and ultrasound, for example, directly into meshes suitable for use in physics-based simulations. These techniques have several key advantages, including the ability to robustly generate meshes for topologies of arbitrary complexity (such as bioscaffolds or composite micro-architectures) and with any number of constituent materials (multi-part modelling), providing meshes in which the geometric accuracy of mesh domains is only dependent on the image accuracy (image-based accuracy) and the ability for certain problems to model material inhomogeneity by assigning the properties based on image signal strength. Commonly used mesh generation techniques will be compared with the proposed enhanced volumetric marching cubes (EVoMaCs) approach and some issues specific to simulations based on three-dimensional image data will be discussed. A number of case studies will be presented to illustrate how these techniques can be used effectively across a wide range of problems from characterization of micro-scaffolds through to head impact modelling.

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Author information

Author/s: Young, P G (PG); Beresford-West, T B H (TB); Coward, S R L (SR); Notarberardino, B (B); Walker, B (B); Abdul-Aziz, A (A);

Affiliation: School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics, University of Exeter, North Park Road, Exeter EX4 4QF, UK. philippe.g.young(-atsign-)exeter.ac.uk

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Review

Journal: Philosophical transactions. Series A, Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences (Philos Transact A Math Phys Eng Sci), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Sep; vol 366 (issue 1878) : pp 3155-73

Dates: Created 2008/07/28; Completed 2008/09/30;

PMID: 18573757, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Biomechanics - statistics & numerical data
Biophysics - statistics & numerical data
Bone and Bones - anatomy & histology
Computer Simulation
Finite Element Analysis

Head - anatomy & histology
Humans
Imaging, Three-Dimensional - statistics & numerical data
Models, Anatomic
Models, Biological

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