Automated patient-specific bone-implant biomechanical analysis
Inventors
Hoffmann, Paul F. • Keaveny, Tony M. • Kopperdahl, David L.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-8644568-B1
Publication Date
2014-02-04
Expiration Date
Abstract
An apparatus, method, and computer program product for providing information for surgical planning based on automated biomechanical analysis of a bone-implant system using finite element analysis of a patient's 3D medical image, including automated biomechanical analysis of bone-implant systems for use in surgical planning both pre-operatively and intra-operatively and for use in research and development studies.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a computer-implemented method of finite element analysis of bone-implant systems for evaluating biomechanical performance of an implant in a patient-specific manner across a plurality of bones. The method receives a plurality of digital images of a bone structure or a portion thereof for the plurality of bones and produces, using a computing system, a patient-specific bone-implant finite element mesh for the implant virtually implanted in the plurality of bones by altering a pre-constructed non-patient-specific bone-implant finite element mesh of the implant.
The altered mesh includes a pre-constructed non-patient-specific bone mesh portion, and the patient-specific bone-implant finite element mesh is produced by virtual implantation through changes to geometry for each bone. A finite element analysis is then performed using the computing system on the patient-specific bone-implant finite element mesh for each bone, and a result of each finite element analysis is generated using the computing system.
The disclosure further includes positioning an implant virtually using a microprocessor into each particular bone to create virtual representations of the implant positioned in one bone of the plurality of bones. Each virtual representation is characterized biomechanically against a set of demographic parameters to produce a set of performance data, and the performance data are saved on a computer or digital storage device.
Claims Coverage
The document provides two independent claims, with main inventive coverage centered on patient-specific mesh alteration from digital images, finite element analysis and result generation, and virtual positioning of an implant with biomechanical characterization against demographic parameters and saving of performance data.
Patient-specific finite element mesh alteration from digital images
Receiving a plurality of digital images of a bone structure, or portion thereof, for a plurality of bones, and producing, using a computing system, a patient-specific bone-implant finite element mesh for said implant virtually implanted in said plurality of bones by altering a pre-constructed non-patient-specific bone-implant finite element mesh of said implant.
Finite element analysis per bone and result generation
Performing, using said computing system, a finite element analysis on said patient-specific bone-implant finite element mesh for each bone and generating, using said computing system, a result of each said finite element analysis.
Virtual implant positioning for multiple virtual representations
Positioning virtually, using a microprocessor, the implant into each particular bone of the plurality of bones to create a plurality of virtual representations, each virtual representation modeling the implant positioned into one bone of the plurality of bones.
Biomechanical characterization against demographic parameters and performance data saving
Characterizing biomechanically, using said microprocessor, each virtual representation of said plurality of virtual representations against a set of demographic parameters to produce a set of performance data, and saving said set of performance data on a computer or digital storage device.
Overall claim coverage focuses on creating patient-specific bone-implant finite element meshes by altering pre-constructed non-patient-specific meshes and performing finite element analysis to generate results, as well as virtually positioning implants into bones, characterizing the resulting virtual representations against demographic parameters, and saving performance data.
Stated Advantages
Enables evaluating the biomechanical performance of an implant in a patient-specific manner across a plurality of bones.
Generates results from finite element analysis of patient-specific bone-implant finite element meshes.
Characterizes each virtual representation against demographic parameters to produce performance data.
Saves the set of performance data on a computer or digital storage device.
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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