Multi-level biomechanical models for rehabilitation engineering

Rehabilitation engineering aims in the upmost degree to restore the lost functions for those persons with physical disability. Biomechanical modeling has been widely used for different purposes in rehabilitation engineering to understand the bio-

Biomechanical behavior study of dog‘s small intestines

The biomechanical behavior of dog's duodenum and jejunum were studied and a formulation of the stress-strain relation is presented in this paper,The results obtained indicated that the exponential coefficient α and the incremental duodenum of the elastic modulus are both larger than those of the jejunum.It means that the duodenum is more deformabel than the jejunum.The experimental results of this work provide basal data for kinematics study of a robotic endoscope.

A Biomechanical Model of Human Lung Deformation Utilizing Patient-Specific Elastic Property

A biomechanical model is developed and validated for breathing-induced deformation of human lung. Specifically, a subject-specific poro-elastic lung model is used to predict the displacement over the breathing cycle and compared with displacement derived from high resolution image registration. The lung geometry is derived from four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) scan dataset of two human subjects. The heterogeneous Young’s modulus is estimated using inverse analysis method. The numerical simulation uses fluid-structure interaction technique to solve the coupled airflow equations and structural dynamics of the lung tissue. The modelled displacement is validated by comparison with the 4DCT registration results.

Advanced 4-dimensional cone-beam computed tomography reconstruction by combining motion estimation, motioncompensated reconstruction, biomechanical modeling and deep learning

4-Dimensional cone-beam computed tomography(4D-CBCT)offers several key advantages over conventional 3DCBCT in moving target localization/delineation,structure de-blurring,target motion tracking,treatment dose accumulation and adaptive radiation therapy.However,the use of the 4D-CBCT in current radiation therapy practices has been limited,mostly due to its sub-optimal image quality from limited angular sampling of conebeam projections.In this study,we summarized the recent developments of 4D-CBCT reconstruction techniques for image quality improvement,and introduced our developments of a new 4D-CBCT reconstruction technique which features simultaneous motion estimation and image reconstruction(SMEIR).Based on the original SMEIR scheme,biomechanical modeling-guided SMEIR(SMEIR-Bio)was introduced to further improve the reconstruction accuracy of fine details in lung 4D-CBCTs.To improve the efficiency of reconstruction,we recently developed a U-net-based deformation-vector-field(DVF)optimization technique to leverage a population-based deep learning scheme to improve the accuracy of intra-lung DVFs(SMEIR-Unet),without explicit biomechanical modeling.Details of each of the SMEIR,SMEIR-Bio and SMEIR-Unet techniques were included in this study,along with the corresponding results comparing the reconstruction accuracy in terms of CBCT images and the DVFs.We also discussed the application prospects of the SMEIR-type techniques in image-guided radiation therapy and adaptive radiation therapy,and presented potential schemes on future developments to achieve faster and more accurate 4D-CBCT imaging.

Effects of the windshield inclination angle on head/brain injuries in car-to-pedestrian collisions using computational biomechanics models

Car-to-pedestrian collision(CPC)accidents occur frequently,and pedestrians often suffer serious head/brain injuries.One major cause is the primary impact with the windshield.Here,we use an umerical sim ulation method to study the influence of the windshield in-clination angle of a passenger car on pedestrian head/brain injury due to CPC accidents.The range of the windshield inclination angle was set at 24°-50°,with an interval of 2°.The results show that the windshield angle significantly affects the pedestrian kine-matics and exerts different effects on the head injury when evaluating with various head injury criteria.Regarding the head peak linear/rotational acceleration and acceleration-based head injury criterion(HIC)/rotational injury criterion(RIC),the predictions at the secondary impact stage have no clear relationship with the windshield angle(R^(2)=0.04,0.07,0.03 and 0.26,respectively)and their distributions are scattered.In the primary impact,the peak linear acceleration and HIC show a weak trend of first decreasing and then increasing with the increasing of the windshield angle,and the rotational acceleration and RIC tend to remain relatively con-stant.Regarding the cum ulative strain dama ge measure(CSDM)criterion,the predictions at the primary impact are slightly lower than those at the secondary impact,and the trend of first decreasing and then increasing with the increase in the windshield angle is observed at both impact stages.When the windshield inclination angle is approximately 32°-40°,the head injury severity in both impact phases is generally lower than that predicted at other windshield angles.

Biomechanics of the sclera and effects on intraocular pressure

Accumulating evidence indicates that glaucoma is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of retinal ganglion cells （RGC）, resulting in gradual and progressive permanent loss of vision. Reducing intraocular pressure （IOP） remains the only proven method for preventing and delaying the progression of glaucomatous visual impairment. However, the specific role of IOP in optic nerve injury remains controversial, and little is known about the biomechanical mechanism by which elevated IOP leads to the loss of RGC. Published studies suggest that the biomechanical properties of the sclera and scleral lamina cribrosa determine the biomechanical changes of optic nerve head, and play an important role in the pathologic process of loss of RGC and optic nerve damage. This review focuses on the current understanding of biomechanics of sclera in glaucoma and provides an overview of the possible interactions between the sclera and IOP. Treatments and interventions aimed at the sclera are also discussed.

Quantification of Ride Comfort Using Musculoskeletal Mathematical Model Considering Vehicle Behavior

This research aims to quantify driver ride comfort due to changes in damper characteristics between comfort mode and sport mode,considering the vehicle’s inertial behavior.The comfort of riding in an automobile has been evaluated in recent years on the basis of a subjective sensory evaluation given by the driver.However,reflecting driving sensations in design work to improve ride comfort is abstract in nature and difficult to express theoretically.Therefore,we evaluated the human body’s effects while driving scientifically by quantifying the driver’s behavior while operating the steering wheel and the behavior of the automobile while in motion using physical quantities.To this end,we collected driver and vehicle data using amotion capture system and vehicle CAN and IMU sensors.We also constructed a three-dimensional musculoskeletal mathematical model to simulate driver movements and calculate the power and amount of energy per unit of time used for driving the joints and muscles of the human body.Here,we used comfort mode and sport mode to compare damper characteristics in terms of hardness.In comfort mode,damper characteristics are soft and steering stability is mild,but vibration from the road is not easily transmitted to the driver making for a lighter load on the driver.In sport mode,on the other hand,damper characteristics are hard and steering stability is comparatively better.Still,vibration from the road is easily transmitted to the driver,whichmakes it easy for a load to be placed on the driver.As a result of this comparison,it was found that a load was most likely to be applied to the driver’s neck.This result in relation to the neck joint can therefore be treated as an objective measure for quantifying ride comfort.

Qualitative analysis of the Dix-Hallpike maneuver in multi-canal BPPV using a biomechanical model: Introduction of an expanded Dix-Hallpike maneuver for enhanced diagnosis of multi-canal BPPV

Introduction/Objective:Multiple canal BPPV can be a diagnostic challenge to the clinician.This is due in part to the complex anatomy of the labyrinth but also to complex and often simultaneous ocular responses that result from stimulation of multiple canals during traditional diagnostic testing.Our objective was to analyze the Dix-Hallpike maneuver used in the diagnosis of BPPV to look for patterns of simultaneous canal response and to develop a diagnostic maneuver that will allow separation of canal responses in multiple canal BPPV.Methods:A previously created and published 3D biomechanical model of the human labyrinths for the study of BPPV was used to analyze and compare the position and movement of otoliths in the Dix-Hallpike maneuver as well as in a proposed expanded version of the traditional DixHallpike maneuver.Results:The traditional Dix-Hallpike maneuver with the head hanging may promote movement of otoliths in 5 of the six semicircular canals.The Dix-Hallpike maneuver with the head lowered only to the horizontal position allows for otoconia in only the lowermost posterior canal to fall to the most gravity dependent position.This position allows for minimal or no movement of otoconia in the contralateral posterior canal,or in either superior canal.Turning the head ninety degrees to the opposite side while still in the horizontal position will provoke otolith movement in only the contralateral posterior canal.The superior canals can then be examined for free otolith debris by extending the neck to a head-hanging position.These positions may be assumed directly from one to the next in the lying position.There seems to be no advantage to sitting up between positions.Conclusion:The Dix-Hallpike maneuver may cause simultaneous movement of otoliths present in multiple canals and create an obstacle to accurate diagnosis in multi-canal BPPV.An expanded Dix-Hallpike maneuver is described which adds intermediate steps with the head positioned to the right and left in the horizontal position before head-hanging.This expanded maneuver has helped to isolate affected semi-circular canals for individual assessment in multiple canal BPPV.

Biomechanical modeling for the response of human thorax to blast waves

A simplified finite element model of a human thorax had been developed for probing into the mechani- cal response in simple and complex blast environments. The human thorax model was first created by CT images with blast loading applied via a coupled arbitrary Lagrangian- Eulerian method, allowing for a variety of loads to be considered. The goal is to analyze the maximum stress distri- butions of lung tissue and peak inward thorax wall velocity and to know the possible regions and levels of lung injury. In parallel, a mathematical model has been modified from the Lobdell model to investigate the detailed percentage of lung injury at each level. The blast loadings around the human tho- rax were obtained from the finite element model, and were then applied in the mathematical model as the boundary con- ditions to predict the normalized work of the human thorax lung. The present results are found in agreement with the modified Bowen curves and the results predicted by Axels- son＇s model.

Nonlinear Anisotropic Composite Biomechanical Modeling of Human Skin

A 3D nonlinear anisotropic composite biomechanical modeling of human skin was developed according to existing biomechanical experimental results,which can provide insights into the important structure-function relationship and parameters in skin tissue.A structural approach determines the macroscopic mechanical response of the skin tissue from its underlying structural components.The collagen fibers were embedded into a block of elastic gel matrix.The constitutive matrix of skin tissue consisted of both of collagen fiber and elastic gel block according to the rule that the collagen fibers were undulated with the ability to resist load only when completely straightened.The nonlinear and anisotropic mechanical responses were largely due to varying degree of fiber undulation.Statistical distributions were used to determine the extent of fiber undulation.The comparison of stress-strain plots between the modeling and experimental results showed the good coordination of the both.Some model parameters were discussed to compute the macroscopic mechanical response when the tissue block was subject to a simple deformation mode.

有限元法分析老年骨质疏松患者L_(3/4)椎板减压椎间融合的力学性能

背景:老年骨质疏松患者同时罹患高位腰椎间盘突出的发病人数逐年增加,行常规后入路椎板减压及椎间融合术后腰椎整体力学强度及邻近椎体的生物力学性能改变尚未明确。有限元分析方法以其无创、可重复性高、结果精确等优势在生物力学领域具有重要价值。目的:基于有限元分析方法,针对老年骨质疏松患者的特定人群,建立L_(3/4)椎板减压椎间融合的有限元模型,评估弯腰动作下骨骼内固定复合体的生物力学情况。方法:利用Mimics 21.0提取脊柱CT的DICOM数据建立腰椎(T_(12)-L_(5))三维骨性结构,导入Geomagic wrap 2017,通过重划网格、删除钉状物、剪切模型、填充空洞、探测并编辑轮廓线、构造曲面片及格栅、拟合曲面等操作建立L_(3/4)全椎板减压模型。利用Solidworks 2017构建椎弓根螺钉、连接杆、椎间融合器,将其组装于L_(3/4)全椎板减压模型,通过拉伸、等距曲面、移动与复制实体等操作建立椎间盘、关节突软骨等结构。应用ANSYS Workbench 17.0进行材料赋值、模拟脊柱韧带、网格划分、施加作用力及限定边界条件,建立完整骨质疏松性L_(3/4)椎板减压及椎间融合脊柱有限元模型。观察弯腰工况下L_(3/4)椎板减压及椎间融合全腰椎有限元模型的应力、应变及位移云图。结果与结论:(1)应力云图方面:T_(12)-L_(1)椎体平均应力值最高,L_(2)下降24%,L_(3)下降55%,L_(4-5)下降约80%;L_(4/5)关节突区域应力集中程度最高,L_(2/3)次之,L_(1/2)及T_(12)/L_(1)程度轻;螺钉与连接杆交界处应力集中明显,螺钉在椎弓根进出口处次之;(2)应变与位移云图方面:L_(4/5)及L_(2/3)关节突的应变程度最高,T_(12)/L_(1)及L_(1/2)的应变程度次之,L_(3/4)节段融合器、椎弓根螺钉及连接杆无任何可见变形;各节段椎间盘均出现较大变形;(3)提示多软件协同操作可顺利构建老年骨质疏松性L_(3/4)椎板减压及椎间融合脊柱有限元模型;老年腰椎术后患者可耐受前屈动作,证实L_(3/4)椎板减压及椎间融合能够维持脊柱形态并保证脊柱稳定性,但是需警惕胸腰椎应力性骨折及邻椎病的发生。

膝关节骨性关节炎轻症患者膝关节三维有限元建模及力学分析

目的:在缺少层厚较薄的CT和MRI数据的情况下建立膝关节骨性关节炎(KOA)轻症患者膝关节三维有限元模型,并研究胫骨平台内外侧的应力分布。方法:以一名患有轻度KOA的女性患者为研究对象,自盆骨至腓骨胫骨远端进行连续断层扫描。将得到的DICOM格式文件导入至Mimics软件中并通过阈值分割提取膝关节中的骨性结构,将提取出的骨骼进行蒙版编辑、空腔填充、区域增长等操作后导入3-matic中做光顺、包覆处理。在Geomagic Wrap将处理后的骨性结构使用网格医生检查,修复表面缺陷并拟合曲面。以轮廓延展的思路建立相关的软骨、半月板和韧带,并在SolidWorks中以原点重合的方式与骨性结构进行装配。接下来在ANSYS软件中定义材料、设置接触、划分网格、设置约束和载荷,分析在双腿站立下胫骨平台上的应力分布情况。结果:成功建立了包括骨性结构、软骨、韧带的完整膝关节模型。在双腿站立状态下,接触应力峰值约为1.21 MPa,位于胫骨平台内侧中部,胫骨平台外侧的最大应力为0.72 MPa,内外侧间室分别承担总载荷的62.7%和37.3%。结论:通过CT提取加软件绘制的方式建立了全膝关节模型,有限元分析结果符合临床预期,通过此方法建立的模型可靠,能进行后续的研究。

个性化头部生物力学模型的开发及验证

本文提出了一种个性化头部生物力学模型建模方法,并对所生成模型进行了有效性验证。该方法以图斯特50th百分位头部生物力学模型为基础,基于目标模型头部CT数据,采用三维点云配准和自由网格变形法,实现具有详实脑组织结构的个性化头部生物力学模型的快速建模。通过重构经典尸体试验,发现该方法构建的个性化头部生物力学模型在运动学和生物力学响应方面与尸体试验结果高度一致,且与通过逆向工程方法开发的头部生物力学模型并无明显差异,验证了本文方法所开发模型的有效性。因此,本文方法可用于快速构建具有详细解剖学结构的个性化头部生物力学模型,为损伤生物力学、临床医学和法医鉴定等领域的数字化需求提供基础计算分析工具。

基于三维有限元模型的人体全腰椎振动特性研究

振动暴露被认为是诱发腰椎退行性病变和下腰痛的重要原因,本研究旨在探寻振动载荷对腰椎生物力学的影响。基于人体腰椎L1节段至骨盆(L1-pelvis)的CT扫描数据,重构L1-Pelvis三维几何模型。对该几何模型进行网格划分和材料特性赋值,建立L1-Pelvis三维有限元模型,并利用可获得的实验数据对模型的有效性进行验证。基于该有限元模型,通过瞬时动态分析计算出腰椎各运动节段在幅值40 N,频率5 Hz轴向正弦振动载荷作用下的力学响应,并与-40 N和+40 N轴向静态载荷作用下的结果进行对比,响应参数包括椎体轴向位移、纤维环膨出变形和纤维环基质冯·米塞斯应力。研究结果表明,相比于静态载荷,振动载荷下腰椎各运动节段的椎体轴向位移、纤维环膨出变形、纤维环基质冯·米塞斯应力的幅值分别增加了0.550~1.020 mm、0.124~0.251 mm、0.043~0.099 MPa,最大增幅分别可达195.0%、175.7%、151.4%。从量化角度说明振动载荷下腰椎发生损伤的风险更高。

Development of an experimental method for well-controlled blast induced traumatic limb fracture in rats

Heterotopic ossification(HO)is a consequence of traumatic bone and tissue damage,which occurs in 65%of military casualties with blast-associated amputations.However,the mechanisms behind blast-induced HO remain unclear.Animal models are used to study blast-induced HO,but developing such models is challenging,particularly in how to use a pure blast wave(primary blast)to induce limb fracture that then requires an amputation.Several studies,including our recent study,have developed platforms to induce limb fractures in rats with blast loading or a mixture of blast and impact loading.However,these models are limited by the survivability of the animal and repeatability of the model.In this study,we developed an improved platform,aiming to improve the animal's survivability and injury repeatability as well as focusing on primary blast only.The platform exposed only one limb of the rat to a blast wave while providing proper protection to the rest of the rat's body.We obtained very consistent fracture outcome in the tibia(location and pattern)in cadaveric rats with a large range of size and weight.Importantly,the rats did not obviously move during the test,where movement is a potential cause of uncontrolled injury.We further conducted parametric studies by varying the features of the design of the platform.These factors,such as how the limb is fixed and how the cavity through which the limb is placed is sealed,significantly affect the resulting injury.This platform and test setups enable well-controlled limb fracture induced directly by pure blast wave,which is the fundamental step towards a complete in vivo animal model for blast-induced HO induced by primary blast alone,excluding secondary and tertiary blast injury.In addition,the platform design and the findings presented here,particularly regarding the proper protection of the animal,have implications for future studies investigating localized blast injuries,such as blast induced brain and lung injuries.

移乘背抱护理机器人舒适性生物力学模型分析

为探索移乘背抱护理机器人人机交互力学特性与被护理人舒适性感受的潜在关联,研究显性的人机接触力相对于人体生物力学特性的映射关系,揭示影响被护理人舒适性的主要作用肌群,提出了舒适性测试试验与AnyBody背抱运动人体生物力学模型相结合的方法.从被护理人的肌肉激活程度入手,对移乘背抱护理机器人背抱运动舒适性特征进行了分析.首先,介绍了移乘背抱护理机器人典型结构工作原理并进行了运动学分析,在此基础上搭建了舒适性测试试验系统,基于主观舒适性评分规划了服务于试验的基础运动轨迹,并通过试验得到了人机主要接触部位力学信息.然后,以试验数据为边界条件构建了基于AnyBody的背抱运动人体生物力学模型,依托逆动力学仿真分析得到了肌肉激活程度,并对比舒适性测试肌肉激活程度验证了仿真模型的有效性.最后,结合人机主要接触部位受力、肌肉激活程度及主观舒适性评分综合分析了移乘背抱护理机器人背抱运动舒适性特征,明确了影响被护理人舒适性的主要作用肌群.结果表明:影响被护理人舒适性的主要作用肌群有7个,且被护理人胸部压力与腋下压力值大小分别与影响其躯干和上肢舒适性的肌肉激活程度呈正相关.可通过建立胸部压力与腋下压力值相关的加权函数有效描述不同被护理人整体舒适性特征,为移乘背抱护理机器人舒适性运动控制提供了理论依据.

心脏瓣膜相关生物力学模型建立的研究进展

心脏瓣膜生物力学是一个迅速发展的、与临床高度相关的研究领域。已知大多数瓣膜疾病都源于生物力学改变,无创成像方式的出现,使评估和研究这些病变原理和治疗方法的技术取得了重大进展。计算机建模、体内外建模技术推动了研究人员更好地理解心脏瓣膜的生物力学、病理学和介入治疗学。其中,体外建模技术更是一种可供临床转化研究的前景巨大的技术,它在计算机建模和体内建模的基础上更加深入的研究瓣膜生物力学。

有限元仿真分析强直性脊柱炎后路“Y”型截骨固定的生物力学特征

背景:强直性脊柱炎是一种因组织骨化和纤维化导致脊柱僵硬畸形的进行性炎症,表现为患者的姿势异常和活动受限,轻微损伤即可引发胸腰椎骨折。传统医学图像观察限制了医生对强直性脊柱炎治疗的术前决策规划和术后疾病预防。目的:基于强直性脊柱炎患者后路脊柱去松质骨化截骨“Y”型截骨(简称“Y”型截骨)术前和术后的脊柱模型,探究“Y”型截骨固定治疗强直性脊柱炎的生物力学变化。方法:基于1名在内蒙古医科大学第二附属医院就诊的强直性脊柱炎患者的术前和术后CT图像,于Mimics19.0软件中重建“Y”型截骨(L3截骨)术前及术后的三维脊柱模型,包括T11-S1节段,于T11椎体顶部施加7.5 Nm力矩,模拟脊柱在前屈、后伸、左弯、右弯、左旋和右旋6个工况下的运动。仿真得到脊柱各椎体的活动度、各椎间盘的应力和钉棒系统的应力。结果与结论:①“Y”型截骨术后路固定后,脊柱各椎体活动度均下降,且上部椎体活动度损失比例较大(L1:77.95%);②术前脊柱椎间盘最大应力发生于L1-L2节段(0.55 MPa),术后脊柱椎间盘最大应力发生于T11-T12节段(0.50 MPa),且T12以下的椎间盘应力远小于术前;③钉棒系统的最大应力(166.67 MPa)发生于棒体的上中段和椎弓根钉的根部;④提示后路“Y”型截骨固定手术增强了脊柱的稳定性,减小了脊柱活动范围,固定节段的椎体减压良好且下方椎体应力遮挡现象显著,应加强棒体和椎弓根钉应力集中区域的刚度以避免应力疲劳导致的钉棒断裂。

参数化腰骶有限元模型设计与验证

人体腰骶椎是承受载荷较大的部位,也是进行生物力学仿真研究的主要部位。为了提升腰骶椎部分建模的效率与灵活性,提出参数化腰骶有限元模型的建立方法。在CT图像中测取椎体的特征尺寸,并在工程建模软件中构建具有14个控制参数的L3-S1腰骶模型;同时通过三维重建法建立基于同一CT样本的腰骶重建模型。对两种模型施加相同的载荷并进行有限元分析,将仿真结果与文献报道的体外实验数据进行对比,验证了模型的有效性。基于有限元分析结果,比较了参数化模型和重建模型的椎间活动度、髓核最大应力等力学指标,结果表明,两种模型的力学指标均与文献中的实验或仿真数据接近,变化趋势与文献数据相似,即两种模型都是有效的;两种模型的椎间活动度、最大髓核内应力以及活动度随载荷大小的变化趋势等方面基本一致。以上结果说明所设计的参数化腰骶有限元模型能有效提升腰骶有限元建模与分析效率,在有限元分析中可替代重建模型。