Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Neuroimage as a Biomechanical Model:
Toward New Computational Biomechanics
of the Brain
Johnny Y. Zhang, Grand Roman Joldes, Adam Wittek, Ashley Horton,
Simon K. Warfield, and Karol Miller
Abstract In recent years, predicting brain deformations during surgery using
methods of computational biomechanics has become a viable alternative to purely
image-based techniques. However, the difficulties with patient-specific computa-
tional grid generation prevent the widespread application of biomechanical
modeling in medicine. For more efficient computational grid generation, we
propose a statistical meshless model based on fuzzy tissue classification and
mechanical property assignment, and meshless (i.e., based on the unstructured
cloud of points that do not form elements) solution method. Instead of hard
segmentation that divides intracranial area into nonoverlapping, constituent
regions we use statistical classification to get the fuzzy membership functions of
tissue classes for each voxel. Material properties are assigned to integration points
based on this soft classification. Verification example shows that the proposed
model gives equivalent results—difference in computed brain deformations
of at most 0.2 mm—to the finite element method (FEM) and can certainly be
considered for use in future simulations. Based on this concept, patient-specific
computational models can be more efficiently and robustly generated in the clinical
workflow.
J.Y. Zhang (
*
) • A. Horton
Intelligent System for Medicine Laboratory, The University of Western Australia,
35 Stirling Highway, Crawley 6009, WA, Australia
e-mail:
johnny@mech.uwa.edu.au
G.R. Joldes • A. Wittek • K. Miller
Intelligent System for Medicine Laboratory, School of Mechanical
and Chemical Engineering, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway,
Crawley 6009, WA, Australia
S.K. Warfield
Computational Radiology Laboratory, Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital
and Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
